Estimated Oil & Gas Reserves - Gulf of Mexico - December 31, 2006 (MMS)

OCS Report
MMS 2009-064
Outer Continental
Outer Continental Shelf
Shelf
Estimated Oil
Estimated Oil and
and Gas
Gas Reserves
Reserves
Gulf of
Gulf of Mexico
Mexico
December 31,
December 31, 2006
2006
MMS
U.S. Department of the Interior
Minerals Management Service
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
OCS Report
MMS 2009-064
Outer Continental Shelf
Estimated Oil and Gas Reserves

Gulf of Mexico
December 31, 2006
Authors
T. Gerald Crawford
Grant L. Burgess
Steven M. Haley
Peter F. Harrison
Clark J. Kinler
Gregory D. Klocek
Nancy K. Shepard
Resource Evaluation Office

Reserves Section
Published by
U.S. Department of the Interior

Minerals Management Service New Orleans
Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Office December 2009
ii
Contents
Abstract v
Introduction 1
Definition of Resource and Reserve Terms 1
Reference Standard Conditions for Production and Reserves 4
MMS Reporting of Reserve and Resource Data 4
Methods Used for Estimating Reserves 5
Reserves and Related Data Reported by Area 6
Reserves Reported by Geologic Age 12
Historical Exploration and Discovery Pattern and Trends 19
Field-Size Distribution 24
Reservoir-Size Distribution 34
Production Rates and Discovery Trends 36
Summary and Comparison of Proved Reserves 44
Conclusions 46
Contributing Personnel 46
References 47
Figures
1. MMS conventionally recoverable petroleum resource classifications 1
2. Gulf of Mexico MMS reserve classifications 2
3. MMS evaluation of reserves and resources 4
4. Western Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf 6
5. Central Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf 7
6. Eastern Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf 7
7. Gulf of Mexico, 1,229 proved fields (956 active and 273 depleted) 9
8. Gulf of Mexico, 59 unproved active fields 9
9. Gulf of Mexico MMS geologic time scale 11
10. Pleistocene reserves trend 14
11. Pliocene reserves trend 14
12. Miocene reserves trend 17
13. Pre-Miocene reserves trend 17
14. Distribution of reserves and production data by geologic age 18
15. Location of proved fields discovered 1947-1959, Gulf of Mexico OCS 19
21. Annual number of field discoveries by geologic age, 1,229 proved fields 23
22. Annual discoveries of proved reserves by geologic age, 1,229 proved fields 24
23. Description of deposit-size classes 25
24. Field-size distribution of proved fields: (a) 1,229 fields, GOM; (b) 345 fields,
Western GOM; (c) 884 fields, Central and Eastern GOM 26
25. Field-size distribution of proved oil fields: (a) 230 fields, GOM; (b) 32 fields,
26. Field-size distribution of proved gas fields: (a) 999 fields, GOM; (b) 313 fields,
iii
27. Field-size distribution of unproved fields: (a) 59 fields, GOM; (b) 34 oil fields, GOM;
(c) 25 gas fields, GOM 29
28. GOM field-size distribution 30
29. Cumulative percent total reserves versus rank order of field size for 1,229 proved fields 31
30. Field and reserves distribution by water depth 31
31. Largest 20 fields ranked by remaining proved reserves 32
32. Reservoir-size distribution, 2,235 proved combination reservoirs 34
33. Reservoir-size distribution, 8,014 proved oil reservoirs 35
34. Reservoir-size distribution, 17,473 proved gas reservoirs 35
35. Monthly distribution of oil production, 2,071 completions, (1,467 continuously
producing completions) 36
36. Monthly distribution of gas production, 2,318 completions, (1,629 continuously
producing completions) 37
37. Monthly completion and production data 37
38. Annual oil and gas production 38
39. Proved reserves and production by field discovery year 39
40. Annual number of proved oil and gas field discoveries 39
41. Number of proved fields and mean field size by field discovery year 41
42. Number of proved and unproved fields and mean water depth by field discovery year 41
43. Proved oil reserves by reservoir discovery year and annual oil production 42
44. Proved gas reserves by reservoir discovery year and annual gas production 42
45. Wells and footage drilled 43
46. Number of exploratory wells drilled by water depth 43
Tables
1. Estimated oil and gas reserves for 1,229 proved and 59 unproved fields by area,
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006 8
2. Status of oil and gas leases, boreholes, and completions by area, Gulf of Mexico,
Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006 10
3. Estimated oil and gas reserves for 1,229 proved and 59 unproved fields by geologic
age, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006 12
3a. Estimated oil and gas reserves for Pleistocene reservoirs in 402 proved and 7
unproved fields by area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006 13
3b. Estimated oil and gas reserves for Pliocene reservoirs in 541 proved and 15 unproved
fields by area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006 15
3c. Estimated oil and gas reserves for Miocene reservoirs in 718 proved and 15 unproved
3d. Estimated oil and gas reserves for Pre-Miocene reservoirs in 24 proved and 3 unproved
3e. Estimated oil and gas reserves for reservoirs that Span Ages in 7 proved and 13 unproved
4. Gulf of Mexico proved fields by rank order, based on proved BOE reserves, top 50 fields 33
5. Summary and comparison of proved oil and gas reserves as of December 31, 2005,
and December 31, 2006 44
6. Proved oil and gas reserves and cumulative production at end of year, 1975-2006,
Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf and Slope 45
iv
Abstract
As of December 31, 2006, proved reserves in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) are estimated to be 20.30 billion barrels of oil and 183.7 trillion cubic feet of gas from
1,229 proved fields. Proved reserves are the total of the cumulative production plus
remaining proved reserves. This number includes 34 proved fields that were added during
2006. It also includes the 273 proved fields that have produced and expired. It does not
include the 59 unproved active fields. Estimates are derived for individual reservoirs from
geologic mapping and reserve evaluation. Cumulative production from the proved fields
accounts for 15.08 billion barrels of oil and 166.8 trillion cubic feet of gas. Remaining proved
reserves are estimated to be 5.22 billion barrels of oil and 16.9 trillion cubic feet of gas.
These reserves are recoverable from 956 proved active fields.
Unproved reserves are estimated to be 4.44 billion barrels of oil and 8.3 trillion cubic feet of
gas. These reserves are associated with the 59 unproved active fields studied and the
unproved reserves in proved fields. In total, there are 1,015 proved and unproved active
fields located in Federal waters. The unproved reserves, associated with the proved and
unproved active fields studied, are not added to proved reserves because of different levels
of economic certainty and hydrocarbon assurance. For any field spanning State and Federal
waters, reserves are estimated for the Federal portion only.
In addition to the proved and unproved reserves discussed above, there are 1.32 billion
barrels of oil and 7.7 trillion cubic feet of gas that are not presented in the tables and figures
of this report. This oil and gas occurs on leases that have not yet qualified (and therefore
have not been placed in a field) or they occur as known resources in proved fields, or as
known resources in unproved fields. As further drilling and development occur, additional
hydrocarbon volumes will become reportable, and MMS anticipates future proved and
unproved reserves to increase.
8.23 (BBOE)
5.22 Bbbl - Oil

16.9 Tcf - Gas
13%
73%
44.75 (BBOE) 5.91 (BBOE)
10% 4.44 Bbbl - Oil
15.08 Bbbl - Oil
8.3 Tcf - Gas
166.7 Tcf - Gas
4%
2.68 (BBOE)
1.32 Bbbl - Oil
7.7 Tcf - Gas
Cumulative Production
Remaining Proved Reserves
Unproved Reserves
Total Not Presented
Gulf of Mexico Reserves and Resources
v
vi
Introduction
This report, which supersedes the Minerals Management Service (MMS) OCS Report MMS 2009-022 (Crawford and
others, 2009), presents estimated proved reserves, cumulative production, remaining proved reserves, and unproved
reserves as of December 31, 2006, for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Reserves growth (an observed phenomenon that
occurs when there is an incremental increase through time in the estimates of proved reserves) and undiscovered
and known resources are not addressed in this report. A discussion of reserves growth can be found in OCS Report
MMS 2001-0087 (Lore and others, 2001). The estimates of reserves for this report were completed in December
2008 and represent the combined efforts of engineers, geologists, geophysicists, paleontologists, and other personnel
of the MMS Gulf of Mexico Region, Office of Resource Evaluation, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
As in previous reports, standard methods of estimating reserves were used, including volumetric calculations and
performance analyses.
Definition of Resource and Reserve Terms

The MMS definitions and classification schema concerning reserves reflect those of the Society of Petroleum
Engineers (SPE) and the World Petroleum Congress (WPC), 1996. SPE definitions have been used since 1988.
The MMS definitions and classification schema concerning resources are modified as referenced by the U.S.
Department of the Interior, 1989. The MMS petroleum resource and reserve classifications are presented in Figures
1 and 2.
Undiscovered Resources Discovered Resources
Undrilled Prospects Drilled Prospects

Not Within Within Not Within
Known Known Known Within Known Fields
Fields Fields Fields
Unproved
Undiscovered Proved Reserves
Known Reserves
Conventionally
Resources
Recoverable Resources Possible Probable Undeveloped Developed
Increasing Economic Certainty
Nonproducing Producing Economically

Recoverable
Uneconomic
Increasing Hydrocarbon Assurance

(Modified from U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey, 1980)
Figure 1. MMS conventionally recoverable petroleum resource classifications.
1
Production and
Geologic Transportation
Evidence Discovery on Development Development Equipment
of Existence Active Lease Plan Expenditure Installed
Undiscovered Unproved Unproved Proved

Proved
Conventionally Known Possible Probable Undeveloped Developed
Recoverable Resources Reserves Reserves Reserves Reserves
Resources
Unproved Reserves Proved Reserves
Lease Expiration
Increasing Hydrocarbon Assurance and Economic Certainty
Figure 2. Gulf of Mexico MMS reserve classifications.
Field
A field is an area consisting of a single reservoir or multiple reservoirs all grouped on, or related to, the same general
geologic structural feature and/or stratigraphic trapping condition. There may be two or more reservoirs in a field that
are separated vertically by impervious strata, laterally by local geologic barriers, or by both. The area may include
one OCS lease, a portion of an OCS lease, or a group of OCS leases with one or more wells that have been
approved as producible by the MMS pursuant to the requirements of Title 30 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
250.115/116, Determination of Well Producibility. A field is usually named after the area and block on which the
discovery well is located. Field names or field boundaries may be changed when additional geologic and/or
production data initiate such a change. Using geological criteria, the MMS designates a new producible lease as a
new field or assigns it to an existing field. A further explanation of field naming convention can be found in the
“Reserves and Related Data Reported by Area” section on page 6 and in the Field Naming Handbook available from
MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Region Internet Web site at http://www.gomr.mms.gov.
Resources
Concentrations of naturally occurring liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons that can conceivably be discovered and
recovered are called resources. Normal use encompasses both undiscovered and discovered resources.
Undiscovered Resources
Hydrocarbons estimated on the basis of geologic knowledge and theory to exist outside of known accumulations
are undiscovered resources. Undiscovered resources analogous to those in existing fields producible with current
recovery technology and efficiency, but without any consideration of economic viability, are undiscovered
conventionally recoverable resources.
Discovered Resources
Hydrocarbons whose location and quantity are known or estimated from specific geologic evidence are discovered
resources. Discovered resources include known resources, unproved reserves, and proved reserves depending
upon economic, technical, contractual, or regulatory criteria.
Known Resources
Hydrocarbons associated with reservoirs penetrated by one or more wells that are on leases that are active,
expired, relinquished, or terminated are identified as known resources.
2
Reserves
Those quantities of hydrocarbons which are anticipated to be recovered from known accumulations from a given date
forward are reserves. All reserve estimates involve some degree of uncertainty. The uncertainty depends chiefly on
the amount of reliable geologic and engineering data available at the time of the estimate and the interpretation of
these data. The relative degree of uncertainty may be conveyed by placing reserves into one of two principal
classifications, either unproved or proved.
Unproved Reserves
Those quantities of hydrocarbons that can be estimated with some certainty to be potentially recoverable from
known reservoirs, assuming future economic conditions and technological developments, are unproved reserves.
The MMS Gulf of Mexico Regional Field Names Committee designates a new producible lease as a new field or
assigns it to an existing field. The reserves associated with new producible leases qualified pursuant to 30 CFR
250.115/116 are initially considered unproved reserves. Unproved reserves are less certain to be recovered than
proved reserves and are further subclassified as possible and probable reserves to denote progressively
increasing certainty in their recoverability. This report does not present individual estimates for possible and
probable reserves.
Unproved possible reserves are those unproved reserves which analysis of geological and engineering
data suggests are less likely to be commercially recoverable than probable reserves. After a well on a lease
qualifies, the reserves associated with the lease are initially classified as unproved possible because the only
direct evidence of economic accumulations is a production test or electric log analysis.
Unproved probable reserves are those unproved reserves which analysis of geological and engineering
data suggests are more likely than not to be commercially recoverable. Fields that have a Development
Operations Coordination Document (DOCD) on file with the MMS would be classified as unproved probable.
Proved Reserves
Those quantities of hydrocarbons which can be estimated with reasonable certainty to be commercially
recoverable from known reservoirs under current economic conditions, operating methods, and government
regulations are proved reserves. Establishment of current economic conditions includes consideration of
relevant historical petroleum prices and associated costs and may involve an averaging period that is consistent
with the purpose of the reserve estimate. Proved reserves must have either facilities operational at the time of
the estimate to process and transport those reserves to market, or a commitment or reasonable expectation to
install such facilities in the future. The application for a permit to install a platform is considered such a
commitment. Proved reserves can be subdivided into undeveloped or developed.
Proved undeveloped reserves exist where there is a relatively large expenditure required to install
production and/or transportation facilities and a commitment has been made by the operator to develop the
field. Proved undeveloped reserves are reserves expected to be recovered from planned development wells
or from existing wells where a relatively large expenditure is required for field development.
Proved developed reserves are expected to be recovered from existing wells (including reserves behind
pipe). Reserves are considered developed only after the necessary production and transportation equipment
has been installed, or when the costs to do so are relatively minor. Proved developed reserves are
subcategorized as producing or nonproducing. This distinction is made at the reservoir level.
Proved Developed Producing Reserves are in reservoirs that have produced any time during the 12
months before the reporting date. Once the first reservoir in a field begins production, the reservoir and
the field are considered proved developed producing.
Proved Developed Nonproducing Reserves are in reservoirs that have not produced during the 12 months
prior to the reporting date. This category includes off-production reservoirs behind pipe and reservoirs
awaiting workovers or transportation facilities. If all reservoirs in a field are off production, the field is
considered proved developed nonproducing.
Remaining proved reserves are the quantities of proved reserves currently estimated to be recoverable.
Estimates of remaining proved reserves equal proved reserves minus cumulative production.
3
Reference Standard Conditions for Production and Reserves
Production data are the metered volumes of raw liquids and gas reported to the MMS by Federal unit and lease
operators. Oil volume measurements and reserves are corrected to reference standard conditions of 60°F and one
atmosphere (14.696 pounds per square inch absolute [psia]); gas measurements and reserves are corrected to 60°F
and 15.025 psia. To convert gas volumes to 14.696 psia, multiply by 1.022 (DOE, 1989). Continuously measured
volumes from production platforms and/or leases are allocated to individual wells and reservoirs on the basis of
periodic well test gauges. These procedures introduce approximations in both production and remaining reserves
data.
MMS Reporting of Reserve and Resource Data

OCS reserve estimates have been published by the Gulf of Mexico Region annually since 1977, presenting end-of-
year totals starting with 1975. From 1977 to 1981, the estimates were published as United States Geological Survey
(USGS) Open-File reports. The 1982 report was a joint publication between the USGS and the newly formed MMS,
which assumed the OCS mission responsibilities at that time. The MMS has continued the reporting since 1983. The
first report provided by MMS that also includes unproved reserve estimates was published in 1995.
Figure 3 shows the relationship of evaluated data to hydrocarbon assurance. The data are progressively aggregated
on both a geologic and a geographic basis at each step of the evaluation process (the reservoir level through the
region level). The most detailed studies of discovered resources are MMS individual field studies. These studies are
based on analysis at the reservoir level (an example being a single fault trap in a single sand) and are used as the
basis for the reporting of discovered and undiscovered resources. The geologic aggregation begins at the top of the
figure at the reservoir level and progresses downward through the sand, pool, play, chronozone, series, and system
to the region level. Reservoirs associated with a specific sand are aggregated to form the sand reporting level, which
becomes the basis for further aggregations of data. A play is defined primarily (though not exclusively) by
depositional style, geologic age at the chronozone level, and geographic area. Pools are based on the same
characteristics as a play, but are specific to an individual field. Fields may contain one or more pools, with each pool
representing a separate play. The geographic aggregation begins at the bottom of the figure, also at the reservoir
level, and progresses upward through the field, area, and planning area to the region level.
U n d is c o v e re d R e s o u rc e s D is c o v e re d R e s o u rc e s
U n d rille d P ro s p e c ts D rille d P ro s p e c ts
R e p o rtin g / N o t W ith in K n o w n W ith in K n o w n F ie ld s N o t W ith in K n o w n W ith in K n o w n F ie ld s
E v a lu a tio n F ie ld s F ie ld s
Level U n d is c o v e re d U n d is c o v e re d
C o n v e n tio n a lly C o n v e n tio n a lly Know n K now n U n p ro v e d P ro v e d
R e c o v e ra b le R e c o v e ra b le R e s o u rc e s R e s o u rc e s R e s e rv e s R e s e rv e s
R e s o u rc e s R e s o u rc e s
R e s e rv o ir
Sand
Pool
Progressively
Geologically
aggregated
P la y
C h ro n o z o n e
S e rie s
S ys te m
P ro v in c e
R e g io n
Geographically
P la n n in g A re a
Progressively
aggregated
A re a
F ie ld
R e s e rv o ir
In c re a s in g H y d ro c a rb o n A s s u ra n c e a n d E c o n o m ic C e rta in ty
M M S In te rn a l F ie ld N a tio n a l E s tim a te d O il a n d G a s
S tu d ie s Assessm ent O ffs h o re A tla s
R e s e rv e s
Figure 3. MMS evaluation of reserves and resources.
4
This report, Estimated Oil and Gas Reserves, presents reserve data for the field level through the series level (see
Figure 3). This report is based on aggregation of MMS internal field studies completed at the reservoir and sand
levels. All of the reservoir level data have been linked to the sand, pool, play, chronozone, and series level to support
the Offshore Atlas Project (OAP).
The MMS OCS Report MMS 2001-086, Atlas of Gulf of Mexico Gas and Oil Sands as of January 1, 1999,
provides a detailed geologic reporting of oil and gas proved and unproved reserves. Reserves data on more than
10,000 sands have been placed into 65 established geological plays in Federal waters. This is the second MMS
release of a comprehensive framework of geologic and reserve data and the associated attributes for each specific
sand and field. Play, chronozone, series, system, province, and region levels can also be evaluated with the data
provided.
The MMS OCS Report MMS 2001-087, 2000 Assessment of Conventionally Recoverable Hydrocarbon
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf as of January 1, 1999, also known as the
National Assessment, and it’s update, Assessment of Undiscovered Technically Recoverable Oil and Gas
Resources of the Nation’s Outer Continental Shelf, 2006, address proved and unproved reserves, reserves
appreciation, and undiscovered resources. To maintain credibility, an estimate of undiscovered resources must be
based on discovered resources. The OAP supported this report by providing a framework of hydrocarbon plays that
allowed for the logical extension of existing production rather than just a conceptual estimate. This report contains
reserves and resource estimates by play, planning area, water depth, and region.
For information on these reports, contact the Gulf of Mexico Region’s Public Information Office at 1-800-200-GULF or
504-736-2519, or visit MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Region Internet Web site at http://www.gomr.mms.gov.
Methods Used for Estimating Reserves

Reserve estimates from geological and engineering analyses have been completed for the 1,229 proved fields.
Reserves accountability is dependent on the drilling and development phases of fields. When a field is in the
unproved category, geophysical mapping and limited well data are the basis for defining reservoir limits. Once a field
is moved into the proved category and more data become available, the reserve estimate is re-evaluated. Well logs,
well file data, seismic data, and production data are continually analyzed to improve the accuracy of the reserve
estimate. As a field is depleted and/or abandoned, the proved reserves of productive reservoirs are assigned a value
equal to the amount produced and the reserve estimate of non-producing reservoirs is converted to known resources.
Currently, there are 273 proved expired, depleted fields.
Estimation of reserves is done under conditions of uncertainty. The method of estimation is called deterministic if the
estimate is a single “best estimate” based on known geological, engineering, and economic data. The method of
estimation is called probabilistic when the known geoscience, engineering, and economic data are used to generate a
continuous range of estimates and their associated probabilities (SPE/AAPG/WPC/SPEE, 2007). Reserve estimates
in this report are deterministic.
Methods used for estimating reserves can be categorized into three groups: analog, volumetric, and performance.
The accuracy of the proved reserve estimate improves as more reservoir data become available to geoscientists and
engineers. Resources are based on analogy with similar fields, reservoirs, or wells in the same area. Reserve
estimates in this report are based primarily on volumetric and performance methods.
Analog
In the estimation of resources by analogy, geoscientists use seismic data to generate maps of the extent of
subsurface formations. Estimates of undiscovered resources are based on analogy with similar fields, reservoirs, or
wells in the same area before any wells have been drilled on a prospect. The seismic data help geoscientists identify
prospects and resources, but do not provide enough direct data alone to estimate reserves.
The effective pore space, water saturation, net hydrocarbon thickness, pressure, volume, and temperature data, all
necessary to complete resource estimates for prospects, come from nearby field and reservoir well data. After one or
more wells are drilled and found producible, a volumetric estimate is done. These estimates, while incorporating
existing data, still rely on some information obtained from analogs.
5
Volumetric
In a volumetric reserve estimate, data from drilled wells and seismic surveys are used to develop geologic
interpretations. The effective pore space (porosity), water saturation, and net hydrocarbon thickness of the
subsurface formations are calculated through evaluation of well logs, core analysis, and formation test data.
Subsurface formations are mapped to determine area and net hydrocarbon thickness for each reservoir. Reservoir
pressure, fluid volume, and temperature data from formation fluid samples are used to determine the change in
volume of oil and gas that flow from higher pressure conditions deep underground to lower pressure conditions at the
surface. All of these data are compiled, analyzed and applied to standard equations for the calculation of
hydrocarbons in place within the reservoirs. Standard recovery factor equations are then applied to the in-place
estimates to calculate proved and unproved reserves.
Performance Methods
In performance-technique methods, reserves are estimated by using mathematical or graphical techniques of
production decline curve analysis and material balance. These techniques are used throughout the oil industry in
assessing individual well, reservoir, or field performance and in forecasting future reserves. In decline analysis, a plot
of daily production rate against time is most frequently used. Once a well or reservoir can no longer produce at its
maximum capacity, the production rate declines. This production rate plotted against time can be extrapolated into
the future to predict the remaining reserves. Another type of decline analysis is daily production rate plotted against
cumulative production, which can also be used to predict remaining reserves. The declining daily rate is extrapolated
to predict remaining reserves.
Another performance method, material balance, is used to estimate the amount of hydrocarbons in place. Given the
premise that the pressure-volume relationship of a reservoir remains constant as hydrocarbons are produced, it is
possible to equate expansion of reservoir fluids with reservoir voidage caused by fluid withdrawal minus any water
influx. For depletion-drive gas reservoirs, a plot of the pressure/gas compressibility factor (P/Z) versus cumulative
gas production provides an estimate of gas-in-place. Recoverable gas reserves are extrapolated to an abandonment
reservoir pressure.
Reserves and Related Data Reported by Area

The Gulf of Mexico has been divided into three planning areas for administrative purposes; these planning areas as of
December 31, 2006 (Western, Central, and Eastern) are shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Each planning
area is subdivided into protractions, which in turn are divided into numbered blocks. Fields in the Gulf of Mexico are
identified by the protraction area name and block number of discovery – for example, East Cameron Block 271 Field.
LOUISIANA
N S
XA
TE
Sabine
Pass
n
to
v es High
a os al Island
or d d ra
z G
ta g n B
M a Isla
n g
s ta d
M u sla n s East
I
pu ti Garden
o r r is Breaks
Banks
North C h
C
Padre
I s o rt
Island
el
P
ab
South Alaminos
Canyon Keathley
Padre Canyon
Island
Sigsbee
Escarpment
Figure 4. Western Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf.
6
MISSISSIPPI
N
Chandeleur
LOUISIANA
Mobile
Breton Viosca
Sound Knoll
Bay
Marchand Main (Shelf)
Pass
Viosca
sh th
West
Isla Mar Sou

s
n
as Knoll (Slope)
Cam est
ero
South
Cam East
P
n
Grand Delta th
Isla ene
ero
ion
W Pelto
Isle S ou
nd
mil
Eug
Ship South
nd
Ver
Shoal Timbalier Mississippi
Canyon
Ewing
Bank
Green Atwater
Canyon Valley
Walker
Ridge Lund
Amery Terrace Lund South
Figure 5. Central Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf.
FL
OR N
ID
Pensacola A
Destin
Dome Gainesville
Apalachicola
DeSoto Florida Middle Tarpon

Canyon Ground Springs
Lloyd The Saint

Ridge Elbow Petersburg
Vernon Charlotte
Henderson Basin Harbor
Florida
Plain Howell Pulley
Hook Ridge Miami
Rankin Dry Key

Tortugas West
Tortugas
Valley
Figure 6. Eastern Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf.
As the field is developed, the limits may expand into adjacent blocks and areas. These adjacent blocks are then
identified as part of the original field and are given that field name. Statistics in this report are presented as area
totals compiled under each field name. All of the data associated with East Cameron Block 271 Field are therefore
included in the East Cameron totals, although part of the field extends into the adjacent area of Vermilion. There are
four exceptions to the above field-naming techniques: Tiger Shoal and Lighthouse Point, included in South Marsh
Island; Coon Point, included in Ship Shoal; and Bay Marchand, included in South Timbalier.
7
Through December 31, 2006, there were 1,015 proved and unproved active fields in the federally regulated part of the
Gulf of Mexico. An updated list of the active and expired fields can be found in the OCS Operations Field Directory
(updated monthly) available from MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Region Internet Web site. There were 956 proved, active
(producing and non-producing) fields and 59 unproved active fields studied. Included are the 273 proved expired,
depleted fields, abandoned after producing 3.4 percent barrel oil equivalent of the total cumulative oil and gas
production. Not studied were 91 fields expired, relinquished, or terminated without production. These fields may also
be included in the Indicated Hydrocarbon List that can be found by visiting the MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Region
Internet Web site. In 2006, 28 proved fields expired including 22 proved fields that were depleted.
Reserves data and various classifications of fields, leases, boreholes, and completions are presented as area totals in
Tables 1 and 2, and the Table 3 series. (The Table 3 series will be discussed in the section “Reserves Reported by
Geologic Age,” beginning on page 12.)
Table 1. Estimated oil and gas reserves for 1,229 proved fields and 59 unproved fields by area,
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006.
(Reserves: oil expressed in millions of barrels at 60 °F and 1 atmosphere; gas in billions of cubic feet at 60 °F and 15.025 psia.)
Number of fields Cumulative Remaining
Area(s) Proved Proved Proved Proved production proved Unproved
Unproved Expired
(Figs. 4, 5, and 6) active active expired reserves through 2006 reserves reserves
nonprod
prod nonprod depleted active studied Oil Gas Oil Gas Oil Gas Oil Gas
Western Planning Area
Western Shelf
Brazos 21 5 12 0 0 2 11 3,613 10 3,422 1 191 0 53
Galveston 23 4 21 0 0 3 71 2,234 55 1,963 16 271 0 48
High Island and Sabine Pass 70 9 48 1 1 9 400 15,497 381 14,882 19 615 8 278
Matagorda Island 22 0 6 0 0 3 24 5,241 22 4,987 2 254 1 317
Mustang Island 13 0 15 0 0 6 13 1,814 6 1,684 7 130 13 138
N.& S.Padre Island 7 5 6 0 0 0 0 615 0 542 0 73 0 4
Western Slope
Alaminos Canyon 3 1 0 3 3 2 346 452 61 98 285 354 130 275
East Breaks 17 2 0 2 2 4 237 2,360 175 1,604 62 756 16 89
Garden Banks 25 4 6 3 3 4 630 3,897 494 3,125 136 772 167 572
Western Slope (Other)* 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,350 301
Western Planning Area Subtotal 201 30 114 11 11 34 1,732 35,723 1,204 32,307 528 3,416 1,685 2,075
Central Planning Area
Central Shelf
Chandeleur 7 1 4 0 0 0 0 373 0 356 0 17 0 4
East Cameron 42 6 18 0 0 0 350 10,939 324 10,416 26 523 4 126
Eugene Island 68 10 9 0 0 3 1,647 19,541 1,586 18,790 61 751 36 225
Grand Isle 13 2 6 1 1 1 984 4,852 951 4,635 33 217 19 119
Main Pass and Breton Sound 53 10 21 5 5 5 1,119 6,693 1,029 6,176 90 517 6 94
Mobile 16 7 6 2 2 2 0 2,179 0 1,851 0 328 0 56
Ship Shoal 51 5 11 0 0 3 1,392 12,157 1,339 11,682 53 475 21 178
South Marsh Island 38 7 6 0 0 0 945 14,366 869 13,708 76 658 11 272
South Pass 7 4 2 0 0 1 1,083 4,357 1,051 4,220 32 137 1 7
South Pelto 9 0 0 0 0 0 159 1,201 149 1,056 10 145 4 14
South Timbalier 47 6 8 1 1 2 1,623 10,539 1,485 9,375 138 1,164 33 367
Vermilion 58 7 19 0 0 2 573 16,549 528 15,826 45 723 18 316
Viosca Knoll (Shelf) 16 0 14 2 2 1 12 472 11 419 1 53 0 17
West Cameron and Sabine Pass 78 13 26 0 0 0 224 20,749 203 19,392 21 1,357 10 402
West Delta 17 5 2 0 0 3 1,378 5,565 1,344 5,323 34 242 12 78
Central Slope
Atwater Valley 0 4 0 5 5 3 51 407 0 0 51 407 108 313
Ewing Bank 14 2 0 0 0 2 312 500 241 382 71 118 52 103
Green Canyon 28 6 4 12 12 16 2,500 3,671 852 2,216 1,648 1,455 927 672
Mississippi Canyon 33 7 2 10 10 8 3,654 9,152 1,481 5,986 2,173 3,166 563 1,936
Viosca Knoll (Slope) 17 2 1 2 2 3 527 2,827 407 2,374 120 453 80 199
Central Slope (Other)** 1 0 0 6 6 0 29 173 26 158 3 15 851 163
Central Planning Area Subtotal 613 104 159 46 46 55 18,562 147,262 13,876 134,341 4,686 12,921 2,756 5,661
Eastern Planning Area Subtotal*** 2 6 0 2 2 2 1 676 0 93 1 583 0 539
816 140 273
GOM Total: 59 59 91 20,295 183,661 15,080 166,741 5,215 16,920 4,441 8,275
1,229
*Western Slope (Other) includes Corpus Christi, Keathley Canyon, and Port Isabel.
**Central Slope (Other) includes Lund and Walker Ridge.
***Eastern Planning Area includes DeSoto Canyon, Destin Dome, Lloyd Ridge, and others.
8
Figure 7 provides a geographical representation of locations for the 1,229 proved fields in the Gulf of Mexico. The
bar heights in the figure are proportional to total proved reserves (barrel of oil equivalent) for each proved field by
decade.
Figure 8 provides a geographical representation of the 59 unproved active fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Estimates of
unproved reserves are presented as planning area subtotals. The bar heights in the figure are proportional to total
unproved reserves (barrel of oil equivalent) for each unproved field by decade.
Figure 7. Gulf of Mexico, 1,229 proved fields (956 active and 273 depleted.)
Figure 8. Gulf of Mexico, 59 unproved active fields.
9
Table 2. Status of oil and gas leases, boreholes, and completions by area, Gulf of Mexico,
Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006.
(All statistics associated with fields are presented within area totals compiled under each field name.)
Number
Number of leases Number
Area(s) of
of active
(Figs. 4, 5, and 6) Proved Proved Unproved Unqualified boreholes
Expired completions
active depleted qualified active Drilled Abandoned
Western Shelf
Brazos 37 58 0 58 360 594 446 165
Galveston 37 71 4 122 593 707 621 135
High Island and Sabine Pass 160 208 1 244 1,009 3,566 2,637 1,139
Matagorda Island 42 49 0 50 151 646 442 276
Mustang Island 27 35 0 51 422 469 361 151
N.& S.Padre Island 17 16 0 60 330 194 148 66
Western Slope
Alaminos Canyon 12 3 3 438 263 53 31 10
East Breaks 35 10 0 316 475 372 245 131
Garden Banks 49 33 1 608 866 664 493 181
Western Slope (Other)* 7 1 3 701 345 25 23 0
Western Planning Area Subtotal 423 484 12 2,648 4,814 7,290 5,447 2,254
Central Shelf
Chandeleur 10 13 0 18 34 90 63 27
East Cameron 112 163 1 128 614 2,318 1,738 889
Eugene Island 219 143 2 124 481 5,568 3,965 1,992
Grand Isle 48 37 0 44 149 1,976 1,590 577
Main Pass and Breton Sound 141 125 8 101 398 3,206 2,029 1,479
Mobile 39 21 0 21 89 184 117 69
Ship Shoal 174 109 0 140 480 3,706 2,382 1,577
South Marsh Island 133 84 1 88 341 3,023 2,009 1,203
South Pass 39 26 0 22 98 2,368 1,535 1,062
South Pelto 22 5 0 4 30 422 293 187
South Timbalier 138 86 6 128 463 3,340 2,185 1,483
Vermilion 142 175 0 157 594 3,173 2,311 1,154
Viosca Knoll (Shelf) 67 40 0 102 358 608 385 162
West Cameron and Sabine Pass 215 284 1 276 956 3,794 2,837 1,310
West Delta 94 48 0 41 186 3,062 2,158 990
Central Slope
Atwater Valley 7 4 1 371 374 95 79 13
Ewing Bank 28 16 0 69 245 366 263 111
Green Canyon 93 42 8 714 686 1,049 755 312
Mississippi Canyon 127 41 5 513 736 1,472 994 474
Viosca Knoll (Slope) 32 0 9 547 148 36 29 1
Central Slope (Other)** 32 0 9 547 148 36 29 22
Central Planning Area Subtotal 1,912 1,462 51 4,155 7,608 39,892 27,746 15,094
Eastern Planning Area Subtotal*** 5 8 86 155 349 83 67 11
GOM Total: 2,340 1,954 149 6,958 12,771 47,265 33,260 17,359
The status of Gulf of Mexico OCS Federal oil and gas leases as of December 31, 2006, is presented in Table 2.
There are 9,447 active leases (2,340 proved active, 149 unproved qualified, and 6,958 unqualified active) and 14,725
relinquished leases (1,954 proved depleted and 12,771 expired).
Definitions for the lease subgroups of Table 2 are:
Proved Active — Leases within the designated 956 proved active fields presented in Table 1.
Proved Depleted — Leases relinquished after oil and gas production. The leases associated with the 273 depleted
fields are represented here along with other produced, relinquished leases that are part of currently active fields.
Unproved Qualified — Leases associated with the 59 unproved active fields. The leases have qualified as
producible under 30 CFR 250.115/116, but the operators have not established a commitment to produce. These
fields may be classified as unproved possible or unproved probable.
10
Chronostratigraphy Biostratigraphy MMS
Series Foraminifer & Ostracod (O) Nannoplanktin Chronozone
Province System Subsystem
Holocene Globorotalia inflata
Globorotalia flexuosa Emiliania huxleyi (base of acme)
Upper Sangamon fauna Gephyrocapsa oceanica (flood) PLU
Gephyrocapsa caribbeanica (flood)
Helicosphaera inversa
Middle Trimosina "A" Gephyrocapsa parallela PLM
Quaternary Pleistocene Pseudoemiliania ovata
Stilostomella antillea Pseudoemiliania lacunosa "C" (acme)
Trimosina "A" (acme)
Lower Hyalinea "B" / Trimosina "B" PLL
Angulogerina "B" Calcidiscus macintyrei
Uvigerina hispida
Globorotalia crassula (acme) Discoaster brouweri
Lenticulina 1
Upper Globoquadrina altispira
PU
Pliocene Textularia 1
Buccella hannai (acme) Sphenolithus abies
Lower Buliminella 1 Sphenolithus abies "B" PL
Globorotalia plesiotumida (acme) Discoaster quintatus
Globorotalia menardii (coiling change right-to-left) Discoaster quinqueramus
Textularia "X" Discoaster berggrenii "A"
Robulus "E"
Bigenerina "A" Minylithus convallis
MUU
Upper Cristellaria "K" Catinaster mexicanus
Bolivina thalmanni Discoaster prepentaradiatus (increase)
N
C e
Discorbis 12
Bigenerina 2 Helicosphaera walbersdorfensis MLU
o Uvigerina 3 Coccolithus miopelagicus
e c Globorotalia fohsi robusta Discoaster kugleri
Textularia "W" Discoaster kugleri (acme) MUM
n e
n
Globorotalia peripheroacuta
Bigenerina humblei
Discoaster sanmiguelensis (increase)
Miocene
o T e Middle
Cristellaria "I"
Cibicides opima
Sphenolithus heteromorphus
Sphenolithus heteromorphus (acme)
MMM
Cristellaria / Robulus / Lenticulina 53 Helicosphaera ampliaperta
z e Amphistegina "B" Discoaster deflandrei (acme)
MLM
r Robulus 43 Discoaster calculosus
o t
Cibicides 38
Cristellaria 54 / Eponides 14
MUL
i i
Gyroidina "K"
Catapsydrax stainforthi
Reticulofenestra gartneri
Sphenolithus disbelemnos
Discorbis "B" Orthorhabdus serratus
c a Lower Marginulina "A" Triquetrorhabdulus carinatus MML
r Siphonina davisi
Lenticulina hanseni
Discoaster saundersi
MLL
y Helicosphaera recta
Robulus "A" Dictyococcites bisectus
Heterostegina texana Sphenolithus delphix
Upper Camerina "A"
OU
Oligocene Bolivina mexicana
Nonion struma
P
Lower Textularia warreni Sphenolithus pseudoradians OL
a Ismolithus recurvus
l Hantkenina alabamensis Discoaster saipanensis
Upper Camerina moodybranchensis Cribrocentrum reticulatum EU
e Sphenolithus obtusus
o Nonionella cockfieldensis Micrantholithus procerus
g Eocene Middle Discorbis yeguaensis Pemma basquensis EM
Discoaster lodoensis
e Chiasmolithus californicus
n Lower Globorotalia wilcoxensis Toweius crassus EL
Discoaster multiradiatus
e Morozovella velascoensis Fasciculithus tympaniformis
Upper Vaginulina longiforma LU
Paleocene Vaginulina midwayana
Globorotalia trinidadensis Chiasmolithus danicus
Lower Globigerina eugubina
LL
Micula decussata
Abathomphalus mayaroensis Micula prinsii FAD
C Rosita fornicata KUU
r Upper Gulfian
Dicarinella concavata
Hedbergella amabilis
Lithastrinus moratus
Stoverius achylosus
M e Dicarinella hagni
Planulina eaglefordensis
t Rotalipora cushmani Lithraphidites acutus KLU
e a
Favusella washitaensis
Rotalipora gandolfii
s c Cythereis fredericksburgensis (O)
Hayesites albiensis
Braarudosphaera hockwoldensis KUL
o e Comanchean Ammobaculites goodlandensis
Dictyoconus walnutensis
o Eocytheropteron trinitiensis (O) Rucinolithus irregularis
KML
z u
Lower Orbitolina texana
Rehacythereis? aff. R. glabrella (O)
o s
Ticinella bejaouaensis
Choffatella decipiens
Coahuilan Schuleridea acuminata (O) Diadorhombus rectus
KLL
i Polycostella beckmanni
Gallaecytheridea postrotunda (O)
c Upper
Epistomina uhligi
Epistomina mosquensis Stephanolithion bigotii bigotii JU
Jurassic Alveosepta jaccardi
Paalzowella feifeli
Stephanolithion bigotii maximum
Stephanolithion speciosum
Reinholdella crebra
Middle Watznaueria crucicentralis
JM
Abbreviated MMS Gulf of Mexico biostratigraphic chart illustrating chronostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and MMS chronozones codes. For the complete chart visit :
http:/www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/papers/biochart.pdf.
Figure 9. Gulf of Mexico geologic time scale.
11
Unqualified Active — Active exploratory leases not yet qualified as producible or associated with any field.
Expired — Leases expired, terminated, or relinquished by the operator without having produced any oil or gas,
although some were once qualified as producible under 30 CFR 250.115/116. There are 91 expired fields with no
production.
The total number of boreholes drilled and the number of boreholes plugged and abandoned are also shown in Table
2. There were 760 boreholes spudded during 2006, compared with 816 during 2005, and 897 during 2004. The last
column of Table 2 presents the total number of active completions per area. Active completions are defined as those
with perforations open to the formation and not isolated by permanent plugs; service wells (injection, disposal, or
water source) are included. The presence or absence of production or injection is not considered. The number of
boreholes and the number of active completions listed in this report are based on reports received by the MMS at the
time the count was made in 2009. These numbers may change as data are received, processed, and edited.
Reserves Reported by Geologic Age

In this report, the 1,229 proved and 59 unproved fields have been classified at the geologic series level. The different
geologic age classifications currently in use by MMS are shown in Figure 9. Paleontological examinations of borehole
cuttings, along with regional analysis of geological and geophysical data, were used in determining the age
classifications. Hundreds of additional foraminiferal and nannofossil bioevents were incorporated into an update of
the MMS Biostratigraphic Chart (www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/whatsnew/papers/biochart.pdf) to aid in geologic
mapping, stratigraphic correlation, and paleobathymetric zonation. Using standardized global stratigraphic concepts,
this new version of the chart incorporates the latest information currently used as biostratigraphic datum markers by
industry paleontologists for the Mesozoic and Cenozoic geologic provinces. This biostratigraphic chart update
reduces the disjoint between the industry/academia biostratigraphic naming convention and the MMS-standard
chronozone naming convention, hence MMS reserves allocations.
Table 3 shows the distribution of reserves and production data by geologic age and planning area. Tables 3a
through 3e also show the distribution of reserves and production data by geologic age, but further subdivide the
planning areas as area totals. Please note that this report contains the term “Span Ages,” which is used to denote a
geologic age classification that spans more than one series (see Tables 3 and 3e).
Table 3. Estimated oil and gas reserves for 1,229 proved and 59 unproved fields by geologic age,
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006.
(Reserves: oil expressed in millions of barrels at 60 ºF and 1 atmosphere, gas in billions of cubic feet at 60 ºF and 15.025 psia.)
Cumulative Remaining
Number of Number of
Proved production proved Unproved
Area proved unproved
reserves through 2006 reserves reserves
reservoirs reservoirs
Oil Gas Oil Gas Oil Gas Oil Gas
Pleistocene 1,132 266 7,843 213 7,393 53 450 141 40 248
Pliocene 873 951 8,320 795 6,993 156 1,327 126 125 457
Miocene 2,499 243 19,197 196 17,899 47 1,298 222 41 800
Pre-Miocene 8 0 35 0 22 0 13 0 0 0
Span Ages 8 272 328 0 0 272 328 14 1,479 570
Western Planning Area Subtotal 4,520 1,732 35,723 1,204 32,307 528 3,416 503 1,685 2,075
Pleistocene 3,557 1,118 20,531 1,032 19,525 86 1,006 318 72 462
Pliocene 9,624 6,089 48,480 5,325 45,642 764 2,838 741 232 1,220
Miocene 11,471 10,024 75,348 7,488 67,382 2,536 7,966 929 732 3,155
Pre-Miocene 37 0 2,096 0 1,778 0 318 8 0 64
Span Ages 45 1,331 807 31 14 1,300 793 57 1,720 760
Central Planning Area Subtotal 24,734 18,562 147,262 13,876 134,341 4,686 12,921 2,053 2,756 5,661
Eastern Planning Area
Miocene 17 1 676 0 93 1 583 7 0 48
Pre-Miocene 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 491
Eastern Planning Area Subtotal 17 1 676 0 93 1 583 8 0 539
GOM Total 29,271 20,295 183,661 15,080 166,741 5,215 16,920 2,564 4,441 8,275
12
Data from Table 3a were used to generate the Pleistocene reserves trend presented in Figure 10 and correspond to
the Globorotalia flexuosa through Uvigerina hispida biozones. Production within the Pleistocene extends from the
Galveston area to east of the modern-day mouth of the Mississippi River. Pleistocene productive sands are limited in
the east and west because of a lack of sediment influx at the edge of the depocenter. Deepwater Pleistocene
production occurs in the East Breaks through Mississippi Canyon areas, and well control suggests sands continue
beyond the Sigsbee Escarpment. Through December 31, 2006, the Pleistocene produced from 402 fields. Proved
reserves were 1.38 billion barrels (Bbbl) and 28.4 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). Remaining proved reserves were 0.14 Bbbl
and 1.5 Tcf.
Table 3a. Estimated oil and gas reserves for Pleistocene reservoirs in 402 proved and 7 unproved fields
by area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2006.
Number of Proved production proved Number of Unproved
Alaminos Canyon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5
East Breaks 32 10 201 7 148 3 53 3 0 7
Galveston 3 0 17 0 15 0 2 0 0 0
Garden Banks 115 112 1,364 69 1,182 43 182 60 38 153
High Island and Sabine Pass 967 144 6,217 137 6,039 7 178 76 2 79
N & S Padre Island 15 0 45 0 9 0 35 1 0 4
Western Slope (Other)* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Western Planning Area Subtotal 1,132 266 7,844 213 7,393 53 450 141 40 248
Atwater Valley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 22
East Cameron 358 200 1,496 185 1,354 15 142 44 2 33
Eugene Island 862 330 5,633 312 5,532 18 101 24 2 19
Ewing Bank 64 36 217 29 181 7 37 19 24 55
Grand Isle 34 0 91 0 82 0 10 4 0 2
Green Canyon 146 87 564 75 484 12 80 50 12 54
Main Pass and Breton Sound 5 0 16 0 16 0 0 0 0 0
Mississippi Canyon 28 5 684 5 588 0 96 10 8 19
Ship Shoal 276 68 1,785 65 1,756 3 29 12 1 9
South Marsh Island 438 243 1,885 227 1,804 16 81 32 3 50
South Pass 26 1 240 1 240 0 0 0 0 0
South Pelto 9 0 10 0 6 0 4 0 0 0
South Timbalier 210 46 990 43 920 3 70 13 2 15
Vermilion 533 80 1,761 72 1,637 8 124 46 12 94
Viosca Knoll (Slope) 2 0 28 0 0 0 28 0 0 0
West Cameron and Sabine Pass 540 22 4,982 18 4,794 4 187 60 6 90
West Delta 26 0 148 0 131 0 17 3 0 0
Central Slope (Other)** 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Central Planning Area Subtotal 3,557 1,118 20,530 1,032 19,525 86 1,006 318 72 462
Eastern Planning Area Subtotal*** 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GOM Total 4,689 1,384 28,374 1,245 26,918 139 1,456 459 112 710
Data from Table 3b were used to generate the Pliocene reserves trend presented in Figure 11 and correspond to the
Globorotalia crassula (acme) through Globorotalia plesiotumida (acme) biozones. Production within the Pliocene
extends from south of Galveston in the west to south of Mobile Bay in the east. Pliocene deepwater production
extends extend into the areas of East Breaks, Garden Banks, Green Canyon, Ewing Bank, and Mississippi Canyon.
Well control suggests Pliocene sands extend at least as far as the Sigsbee Escarpment. Through December 31,
2006, the Pliocene produced from 541 fields. Proved reserves were 7.00 Bbbl and 56.8 Tcf. Remaining proved
reserves were 0.92 Bbbl and 4.2 Tcf.
13
Figure 10. Pleistocene reserves trend.
Figure 11. Pliocene reserves trend.
14
Table 3b. Estimated oil and gas reserves for Pliocene reservoirs in 541 proved and 15 unproved fields
Alaminos Canyon 2 63 116 53 92 10 24 0 0 0
East Breaks 142 226 1,830 167 1,200 59 630 28 16 82
Galveston 20 1 70 1 70 0 0 0 0 0
Garden Banks 89 455 2,276 379 1,749 76 527 50 106 327
Western Planning Area Subtotal 873 950 8,320 796 6,993 154 1,327 126 125 456
Atwater Valley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 14 16
East Cameron 571 70 4,843 64 4,659 6 184 59 2 58
Eugene Island 1,520 882 7,803 858 7,596 24 207 127 14 61
Ewing Bank 54 243 242 190 175 53 67 16 14 37
Grand Isle 197 43 1,828 41 1,780 2 48 16 2 13
Green Canyon 197 1,054 2,210 706 1,667 348 543 81 92 216
Mississippi Canyon 269 549 2,733 419 2,497 130 236 60 52 338
Ship Shoal 1,808 1,037 7,332 1,002 7,046 35 286 101 8 85
South Pass 802 541 2,342 528 2,261 13 81 8 0 5
South Pelto 145 49 57 48 55 1 2 2 2 7
South Timbalier 1,086 406 4,991 364 4,624 42 367 115 12 206
Vermilion 867 265 4,262 240 4,056 25 206 47 3 65
Viosca Knoll (Slope) 23 55 110 36 87 19 23 2 3 3
West Cameron and Sabine Pass 667 30 4,056 27 3,837 3 219 35 2 41
West Delta 539 392 1,183 379 1,104 13 79 16 7 15
Central Planning Area Subtotal 9,624 6,090 48,480 5,324 45,642 766 2,838 741 232 1,221
GOM Total 10,497 7,040 56,800 6,120 52,635 920 4,165 867 357 1,677
Data from Table 3c were used to generate the Miocene reserves trend presented in Figure 12 and correspond to the
Globorotalia menardii (coiling change right-to-left) through Lenticulina hanseni biozones. Production within the
Miocene extends from North Padre Island in the west to east of the Mississippi River. Miocene productive sands also
extend into deepwater from East Breaks and Garden Banks in the west to Ewing Bank, Green Canyon, Viosca Knoll,
Mississippi Canyon, Atwater Valley, Destin Dome, Desoto Canyon, and Lloyd Ridge in the east. Wells indicate sands
continue beyond the Sigsbee Escarpment. Through December 31, 2006 the Miocene produced from 718 fields.
Proved reserves were 10.27 Bbbl and 95.2 Tcf. Remaining proved reserves were 2.58 Bbbl and 9.8 Tcf.
Data from Table 3d were used to generate the Pre-Miocene reserves trend presented in Figure 13 and include the
Oligocene, Eocene, and Paleocene in the Tertiary series, and the Cretaceous and Jurassic series. These reservoirs
include Jurassic Norphlet sands and Lower Cretaceous Carbonates. Production within the Jurassic is limited to east
of the Mississippi River in the Mobile area. Well control suggests reservoir sands continuing eastward into Destin
Dome. Through December 31, 2006, these trends produced from 24 fields. Proved reserves were less than 0.01 Bbbl
and 2.2 Tcf. Remaining proved reserves were less than 0.01 Bbbl and 0.4 Tcf.
Data from Table 3e were used to generate reserves for the reservoirs in fields that span ages from Upper Pleistocene
to the Lower Paleogene. Proved reserves were 1.6 Bbbl and 1.1 Tcf.
15
Table 3c. Estimated oil and gas reserves for Miocene reservoirs in 718 proved and 15 unproved fields
Alaminos Canyon 1 11 7 9 6 2 1 0 0 0
Brazos 438 11 3,613 10 3,422 1 191 41 0 53
East Breaks 5 1 329 1 256 0 73 0 0 0
Galveston 407 68 2,147 53 1,878 15 269 31 0 48
Garden Banks 7 64 257 47 194 17 63 9 24 93
Matagorda Island 476 25 5,240 23 4,987 2 253 63 1 317
Mustang Island 341 12 1,780 5 1,662 7 118 28 13 137
N.& S.Padre Island 117 0 571 0 533 0 38 2 0 1
Western Planning Area Subtotal 2,499 243 19,197 196 17,899 47 1,298 222 41 800
Atwater Valley 11 1 359 0 0 1 359 7 18 46
Chandeleur 30 0 373 0 356 0 17 5 0 4
East Cameron 422 80 4,600 75 4,403 5 197 21 0 35
Eugene Island 1,323 436 6,105 416 5,661 20 444 150 19 143
Ewing Bank 15 35 42 23 26 12 16 6 15 17
Grand Isle 732 940 2,933 909 2,773 31 159 102 18 104
Green Canyon 16 79 137 41 51 38 86 18 30 29
Main Pass and Breton Sound 1,480 1,049 5,950 970 5,459 79 491 19 6 93
Mississippi Canyon 185 3,099 5,734 1,057 2,900 2,042 2,834 95 503 1,579
Mobile 38 0 391 0 341 0 50 3 0 9
Ship Shoal 841 288 3,041 271 2,881 17 160 49 11 85
South Pass 569 541 1,775 522 1,719 19 56 4 1 2
South Pelto 420 109 1,133 100 994 9 139 8 2 7
South Timbalier 1,196 1,170 4,559 1,079 3,832 91 727 90 19 145
Vermilion 1,000 227 10,526 215 10,134 12 392 89 3 156
Viosca Knoll (Shelf) 33 12 173 11 160 1 13 2 0 0
Viosca Knoll (Slope) 107 473 2,689 372 2,287 101 402 22 77 196
West Cameron and Sabine Pass 1,221 171 11,703 156 10,752 15 951 120 2 270
West Delta 920 986 4,233 966 4,088 20 146 40 5 63
Central Planning Area Subtotal 11,471 10,024 75,348 7,488 67,382 2,536 7,966 929 732 3,155
GOM Total 13,987 10,268 95,221 7,684 85,374 2,584 9,847 1,158 773 4,003
Table 3d. Estimated oil and gas reserves for Pre-Miocene reservoirs in 24 proved and 3 unproved fields
Mustang Island and N. & S. Padre 8 0 35 0 22 0 13 0 0 0
Western Slope (Other)* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Western Planning Area Subtotal 8 0 35 0 22 0 13 0 0 0
Mobile 21 0 1,788 0 1,511 0 277 3 0 47
Viosca Knoll (Shelf) 14 0 300 0 259 0 41 5 0 17
West Cameron and Sabine Pass 1 0 8 0 8 0 0 0 0
Central Planning Area Subtotal 37 0 2,096 0 1,778 0 318 8 0 64
GOM Total 45 0 2,131 0 1,800 0 331 9 0 555
16
Figure 12. Miocene reserves trend.
Figure 13. Pre-Miocene reserves trend.
17
Table 3e. Estimated oil and gas reserves for reservoirs that Span Ages in 7 proved and 13 unproved fields
Alaminos Canyon 8 272 328 0 0 272 328 10 130 270
Western Slope (Other)* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1,349 300
Western Planning Area Subtotal 8 272 328 0 0 272 328 14 1,479 570
Atwater Valley 19 51 48 0 0 51 48 13 77 228
Green Canyon 26 1,280 759 31 14 1,249 745 34 793 373
Central Planning Area Subtotal 45 1,331 807 31 14 1,300 793 57 1,720 760
GOM Total 53 1,603 1,135 31 14 1,572 1,121 71 3,199 1,330
Figure 14 shows the percentages of reserves and production data by geologic age. This figure matches the
chronostratigraphy by the MMS in the abbreviated Gulf of Mexico biostratigraphic chart presented in Figure 9. This
figure exhibits that Miocene is the predominant reserves trend in the Gulf of Mexico, with the largest percentage of
proved reserves, cumulative production, and remaining proved reserves.
1%
100% 1% 1% 7%
8%
2%
30%
80%
52% 51% 51%
Oil Equivalent (BOE)
Percent Barrels of
50%
58%
60%
50%
40%
31% 32%
41%
35%
24%
20%
17%
15% 16%
7% 8% 3% 9%
0%
Oil Gas Oil Gas Oil Gas
Proved Reserves Cumulative Production Remaining Proved

Reserves
Pleistocene Pliocene Miocene

Pre-Miocene Span Ages
Figure 14. Distribution of reserves and production data by geologic age.
18
Historical Exploration and Discovery Pattern and Trends
In large part, the following section was taken from An Exploration and Discovery Model: a Historic Perspective -
Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf by Gary Lore (1994). The information presented has been updated to
reflect the current database.
It is informative to review the historic exploration and development activities that resulted in the world-class
hydrocarbon-producing basin that is the Gulf of Mexico. Each of the decades of activity will be examined by reviewing
the status of exploration and development activity and the number of fields and quantities of proved reserves
discovered during each decade. The discovery year is defined as the year in which the first well encountering
significant hydrocarbons reached total depth. This date may differ from the year in which the field discovery was
announced.
Figures 15-20 depict locations of proved fields by decade with bar heights proportional to total proved reserves in
barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). Figure 15 shows the locations of the proved fields discovered prior to December 31,
1959. As expected, initial development was in shallower, nearshore waters concentrated mainly in the areas off
central and western Louisiana. This primarily reflected the gradual extension of existing inland drilling and
development technologies into the open-water marine environments, and the infancy of marine seismic acquisition
activities. Early exploratory drilling in very shallow water on the shelf utilized barges and platforms. The mid-1950’s
witnessed the introduction of submersible and jack-up drilling rigs. During this period, 283 exploratory wells were
drilled, culminating in the discovery of 68 proved fields. It was also during this period that 5 of the top 10 fields in the
Gulf of Mexico, based on proved reserves, were discovered, the largest being West Delta 30.
Figure 15. Location of proved fields discovered 1947-1959, Gulf of Mexico OCS.
Figure 16 shows the location of the proved fields discovered in the 1960’s. These discoveries were still concentrated
offshore central and western Louisiana. Though still confined to the shelf (650 ft or less), field discoveries advanced
seaward into deeper waters. During this decade, 2,149 exploratory wells were drilled and 149 proved fields
discovered. The thirteenth largest proved field in the Gulf of Mexico, Ship Shoal 208, was discovered in the sixties.
19
Figure 17 shows the location of the proved fields discovered in the 1970’s. This period reflects continued drilling and
development on the shelf, with an increase in field discoveries on the seaward portion of the shelf, predominantly of
Pleistocene age. The introduction of global positioning systems, used on drillships and semi-submersible drilling rigs,
further opened up deepwater exploration. Frontier drilling on the shelf-slope margin led to discoveries of new fields in
what has been termed the Flexure Trend. During this decade, 3,083 exploratory wells were drilled, resulting in the
discovery of 281 proved fields. The second largest field in the Gulf of Mexico, Eugene Island 330, was discovered in
246 ft of water during this decade. Another significant field discovery was Mississippi Canyon 194, the first field in
over 1,000 ft of water.
During the 1980’s, development activities occurred over practically the entire central and western Gulf of Mexico
shelf, as well as on the upper slope, as can be seen in Figure 18. In addition, the first Norphlet fields and a Miocene
shallow bright spot play were discovered in the eastern Central Gulf of Mexico planning area. Exploratory drilling had
now reached water depths beyond 6,000 ft. In this decade, 4,429 exploration wells were drilled, resulting in the
discovery of 372 proved fields (30 were discovered in water depths greater than 1,000 ft). The largest field in the Gulf
of Mexico, MC807, was discovered during this time period.
For the 1990’s (Figure 19), 4,103 exploration wells were drilled, resulting in the discovery of 222 proved fields (52
were discovered in water depths greater than 1,000 ft). The 1990’s saw the refinement and reduction in cost of
tension leg platform design and a much expanded use of subsea completions. Available production histories have
documented high production rates for deepwater fields. The expanding use of horizontal drilling increased
productivity of specific reservoirs. Computer workstation technology using three-dimensional seismic data sets
allowed for reduced risk and greater geologic assurance in exploration and field development, as well as exploration
of new plays, such as the subsalt play. The fourth largest field in the Gulf of Mexico, MC778, was discovered in the
nineties.
From 2000 to 2006 (Figure 20), 2,643 exploration wells were drilled, resulting in the discovery of 137 proved fields.
Nearly 29 percent of those fields were in greater than 1,000 ft of water. Reserve estimates for field discoveries during
this period may have significant increases because of increased well control, reservoir management, and in-field
exploration. MC776, the sixth largest field in the Gulf of Mexico, was discovered during this time period.
20
21
22
Figure 21 shows annual field discoveries by geologic age for the 1,229 proved fields. Figure 22 shows annual
discoveries of proved reserves by geologic age for the 1,229 proved fields. These two figures show several trends
over the last 50 years. From the mid-1940’s through the 1960’s, the largest number of fields discovered were of
Miocene age and these fields contributed the largest reserves additions. This trend reflects a continuation of the
nearshore operating environment. The decade of the 1970’s saw a large peak in the discovery of Pleistocene and
Pliocene fields and proved reserves. Technological advances in seismic data and deeper drilling accounted for the
resurgence of Miocene field discoveries and reserve additions in the decade of the 1980’s. This decade also saw the
first Jurassic Norphlet discoveries. The decline in the number of fields discovered from 2001 to 2006 may in part be
due to changes in industry exploration trends and active hurricane seasons. Large Miocene and Pliocene discoveries
in the late 1990’s will play a major role in future production. The MMS OCS Report MMS 2009-016, Deepwater Gulf
of Mexico 2009: Interim Report of 2008 Highlights, available from MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Region Internet Web site,
provides detailed information on deepwater activities.
45 45
40 Pleistocene 40
Pliocene
35 Miocene 35
Pre- Miocene
30 30
Span Ages
N u m b e r o f F ie ld s
N u m b e r o f F ie ld s
25 25
20 20
15 15
10 10
5 5
0 0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 21. Annual number of field discoveries by geologic age, 1,229 proved fields.
23
2,500 2,500
Pleistocene
Pliocene
2,000 Miocene 2,000
M illio n B a rre ls o f O il E q u iv a le n t
M illio n B a rre ls o f O il E q u iv a le n t
Pre- Miocene
Span Ages
P ro v e d R e s e rv e s ,
P ro v e d R e s e rv e s ,
1,500 1,500
1,000 1,000
500 500
0 0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 22. Annual discoveries of proved reserves by geologic age, 1,229 proved fields.
Field-Size Distribution
Reserve sizes are expressed in terms of barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). Gas reserves are converted to BOE and
added to the liquid reserves for the convenience of comparison. The conversion factor of 5,620 standard cubic feet of
gas equals 1 BOE is based on the average heating values of domestic hydrocarbons. A geometric progression,
developed by the USGS (Attanasi, 1998), was selected for field-size distribution ranges (Figure 23).
In this report, fields are classified as either oil or gas; some fields do produce both products, making a field type
determination difficult. Generally, fields with a gas/oil ratio (GOR) less than 9,700 standard cubic feet per stock tank
barrel (SCF/STB) are classified as oil.
24
D e p o s it-s iz e D e p o s it-s iz e D e p o s it-s iz e
C la s s C la s s C la s s
ra n g e * ra n g e * ra n g e *
1 0 .0 3 1 - 0 .0 6 2 10 16 - 32 18 4 ,0 9 6 - 8 ,1 9 2
2 0 .0 6 2 - 0 .1 2 5 11 3 2 -6 4 19 8 ,1 9 2 - 1 6 ,3 8 4
3 0 .1 2 5 - 0 .2 5 12 64 - 128 20 1 6 ,3 8 4 - 3 2 ,7 6 8
4 0 .2 5 - 0 .5 0 13 128 - 256 21 3 2 ,7 6 8 - 6 5 ,5 3 6
5 0 .5 0 - 1 .0 0 14 256 - 512 22 6 5 ,5 3 6 - 1 3 1 ,0 7 2
6 1 - 2 15 5 1 2 - 1 ,0 2 4 23 1 3 1 ,0 7 2 - 2 6 2 ,1 4 4
7 2 - 4 16 1 ,0 2 4 - 2 ,0 4 8 24 2 6 2 ,1 4 4 - 5 2 4 ,2 8 8
8 4 - 8 17 2 ,0 4 8 - 4 ,0 9 6 25 5 2 4 ,2 8 8 - 1 ,0 4 8 ,5 7 6
9 8 - 16 *M illio n B a rre ls o f O il E q u iv a le n t (M M B O E )
Figure 23. Description of deposit-size classes.
The field-size distribution based on proved reserves for 1,229 proved fields is shown in Figure 24(a). Of the 1,229
proved oil and gas fields, there are 230 proved oil fields represented in Figure 25(a) and 999 gas fields shown in
Figure 26(a). The Western Gulf of Mexico field-size distributions are displayed on Figures 24(b), 25(b), and 26(b).
Figures 24(c), 25(c), and 26(c) present the Central Gulf of Mexico field-size distributions of proved reserves including
one field in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The field-size distribution, derived from unproved reserves for 59 unproved
fields, is shown in Figure 27(a). There are 34 unproved oil fields in Figure 27(b) and 25 unproved gas fields in
Figure 27(c). All unproved active fields were studied.
Analysis of the 1,229 proved oil and gas fields indicates that the Gulf of Mexico is historically a gas-prone basin.
Figure 28 presents the median (exceeded by 50%) and the mean (arithmetic average) reserves from the field-size
distributions. This figure also provides information on the largest two field-size ranges from Figures 24-27. The GOR
of the 230 proved oil fields is 2,554 SCF/STB. The GOR of the 34 unproved oil fields is 585 SCF/STB. The mean
yield (condensate divided by gas) for the 999 proved gas fields is 22.9 barrels of condensate per million cubic feet
(MMcf) of gas. The mean yield of the 25 unproved gas fields is 21.8 barrels of condensate per MMcf.
25
200
158 T o tal: 52,976 M M B OE
148 156 148
Num ber of Fields

160 ( a ) GOM 139 M edian: 10.3 M M B OE
124 M ean: 43.1 M M B OE
120 100
Largest 11 F ields
73 69 15% o f R eserves
80
37
40 29
18
8 11 10 1
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
Proved Reserves, Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent
200
T o tal: 8,088 M M B OE
Num ber of Fields
160 ( b ) Western GOM M edian: 7.7 M M B OE

M ean: 33.4 M M B OE
120
80
50 50 51 52
27 34 36
40
8 17
3 2 3 8 4
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
Proved Reserves, Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent < 8,192
200
Num ber of Fields
160 ( c ) Central GOM M edian: 12.5 M M B O E

112 106
120 98 105
90 89 83
80 61
46
29
40 25
15
5 9 10 1
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
Figure 24. Field-size distribution of proved fields: (a) 1,229 fields, GOM; (b) 345 fields, Western GOM;
(c) 884 fields, Central and Eastern GOM.
26
50
( a ) GOM 38
Num ber of Fields

40 35 35 M edian: 47.8 M M B OE
29
30 Largest 9 F ields
24
27% o f R eserves
20 15 15
12
8 8
10 4
3 1 2 1
0
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
50
Num ber of Fields
40 ( b ) Western GOM M edian: 28.6 M M B OE

30
20
10 5 5 6 6
1 3 2 3
1
0 0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
50
T o t al: 22,805 M M B OE
M edian: 53.7 M M B OE
Num ber of Fields
40 ( c ) Central GOM 34 M ean: 115.2 M M B O E

32
29
30
24
19
20
13 12
8 9 8
10
3 2 3 1
1
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
Figure 25. Field-size distribution of proved oil fields: (a) 230 fields GOM; (b) 32 fields, Western GOM;
27
200
Num ber of Fields

160 ( a ) GOM M edian: 7.3 M M B OE
127 133 132 119 123 M ean: 28.2 M M B OE
116
120
Largest 16 F ields
69 20% o f R eserves
80 62
35 34
40 17
8 14
8 2
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
200
T o t al: 6,045 M M B OE
Num ber of Fields
160 ( b ) Western M edian: 6.6 M M B OE

M ean: 19.3 M M B O E
120
80
47 48 46 46
40 26 34 31
8 11 7
3 2 3 1
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
200
Num ber of Fields
160 ( c ) Central GOM M edian: 8.1 M M B OE

120
82 85 86 88
80 77
80
43 51
27 27
40
14 13
5 6 2
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
Figure 26. Field-size distribution of proved gas fields: (a) 999 fields, GOM; (b) 313 fields, Western GOM;
28
20
( a ) Unproved, GOM
Num ber of Fields

M edian: 9.1 M M B OE
11
10
10 9 Largest 3 F ields
55% o f R eserves
5
4 4
3 2 3 3
2 2 1
0
< 0.25
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.5
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
20
Num ber of Fields
( b ) Unproved oil, GOM M edian: 25.3 M M B OE

10 9 Largest 3 F ields
7 59% o f R eserves
4 4
3
2 2 1
1 1
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
<2
<4
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<8
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
20
T o tal: 223 M M B OE
Num ber of Fields
( c ) Unproved gas, GOM M edian: 2.8 M M B OE

M ean: 8.9 M M B OE
Largest F ield
10 8 39% o f
R eserves
3 3 3
2 2 2
1 1
0
< 0.062
< 0.125
< 0.25
< 0.5
<1
<2
<4
<8
< 16
< 32
< 64
< 128
< 256
< 511
< 1,024
< 2,048
< 4,096
< 8,192
Figure 27. Field-size distribution of unproved fields: (a) 59 fields, GOM; (b) 34 oil fields, GOM;
(c) 25 gas fields, GOM.
29
Description of Figure Largest Fields
Median* Mean*
Fields Number Number Reserves
1,229 Proved Fig. 24a 10.3 43.1 11 15%
230 Proved Oil Fig. 25a 47.8 108.8 9 27%
999 Proved Gas Fig. 26a 7.3 28.2 16 20%
59 Unproved Fig. 27a 9.1 63.8 3 55%
34 Unproved Oil Fig. 27b 25.3 104.2 3 59%
25 Unproved Gas Fig. 27c 2.8 8.9 1 39%

* Million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE)
Figure 28. GOM field-size distribution.
Figure 29 shows the cumulative percent distribution of proved reserves in billion barrels of oil equivalent (BBOE), by
field rank. All 1,229 proved fields in the Gulf of Mexico OCS are included in this figure. A characteristic often
observed in hydrocarbon-producing basins is a rapid drop-off in size from that of largest known field to smallest.
Twenty-five percent of the proved reserves are contained in the 25 largest fields. Fifty percent of the proved reserves
are contained in the 84 largest fields. Ninety percent of the proved reserves are contained in the 416 largest fields.
Figure 30 shows the distribution of the number of fields and proved reserves by water depth. A field’s water depth is
determined by averaging the water depth of the wells drilled in the field. The water depth ranges used in this figure,
651-1,300 ft, 1,301-2,600 ft, and greater than 2,600 ft, closely approximate the 200-400 meter, 401-800 meter, and
greater than 800 meter water depths used in the OCS Deepwater Royalty Relief Act of 1995 (DWRRA). Proved
reserves, reported in MMBOE, are associated with the 1,229 proved fields. The 59 unproved active fields are
presented to show recent activity. Fifty-six percent of the proved reserves in the Gulf of Mexico are located in less
than 200 ft of water. The shelf, generally considered as less than 650 ft of water, accounts for 77 percent of the
proved reserves. Development beyond the shelf, generally considered greater than 650 ft of water, reflects a sizeable
amount of proved reserves associated with a few fields. The mean proved reserves per proved field in the Gulf of
Mexico is 43.1 MMBOE. For water depths less than 651 ft, it is 38.4 MMBOE; for 651-1,300 ft, it is 35.3 MMBOE; for
1,301-2,600 ft, it is 45.0 MMBOE; and greater than 2,600 ft, it is 108.8 MMBOE.
30
100%
50
90%
90% of the proved reserves are in
Proved Reserves, Billion Barrels of Oil Equivalent

45
the 416 largest fields
80%
40
70%
35
Cumulative Percent
60%
30
50%
50% of the proved reserves are in 25
40%
20
30%
15
25% of the proved reserves are in

20% 10
10% 5
0% 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 1,200
Number of Fields, Rank Order
Figure 29. Cumulative percent total reserves versus rank order of field size for 1,229 proved fields.
14,000 400
Proved reserves
(52,976 MMBOE)
350
11,057
11,044
12,000 Number of proved

10,594
fields (1,229)
307
298
Remaining proved
reserves (8.226 MMBOE) 300
10,000
8,810
Number of unproved
257
fields (59)
8,237
Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent
Unproved reserves 250
Number of Fields
(3,765 MMBOE)
8,000
204
Reserves,
200
5,427
6,000
150
3,606
4,000
100
81
1,659
1,575
47
2,000
40
50
35
605
592
562
535
344
160
90
8
43
15
4
2
2
1
2
0 0
0-50 51-100 101-200 201-650 651-1,300 1,301-2,600 >2,600
Water Depth, Feet
Figure 30. Field and reserves distribution by water depth. (Totals are in parentheses.)
31
Figure 31 shows the largest 20 fields ranked in order by remaining proved reserves. All 20 fields lie in water depths
of greater than 1,300 ft and account for 58 percent of the remaining proved reserves in the Gulf of Mexico.
Estimates of proved reserves beyond the shelf are increasing. This trend is expected to continue in the future
because of additional exploration and development. Of the 163 proved fields in water depths greater than 650 ft, 122
are producing, 20 are depleted, and 21 have yet to produce. There are 46 unproved active fields in water depths
greater than 650 ft. These fields contain 3,658 MMBOE, representing 97 percent of the Gulf of Mexico total of
estimated unproved reserves.
Exploration and development of the deepwater Gulf of Mexico has accelerated with technological advances,
expansion of the infrastructure, and the enactment of the DWRRA. This has given industry the incentive to explore
and produce deepwater resources as these activities continue to increase in importance to the Nation’s energy
supply.
1,000 Field water depth
900 > 1,300 ft.
4
651 - 1,300 ft.
800 731
6 8 1 0 - 650 ft.
Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent
Remaining Proved Reserves,
700 635 623

613
600 Field Size Rank by

14 Proved Reserves
500 450
24
400
331
Remaining Proved Reserves
41
300 53
222 82
199
55
200 158 133 51 103 146 139 229
117 99 245 243 102 158
85 82 72 66 59
100 55 50 47 44
0
AC857
AT575
GC743
GC640
GC644
GC826
GC562
DC621
GC680
GC158
EB602
MC778
MC776
MC807
MC696
MC084
MC383
MC773
MC582
MC935
Figure 31. Largest 20 fields ranked by remaining proved reserves.
Table 4 lists the 50 largest proved fields ranked by proved reserves expressed in BOE. Rank, field name, new fields,
discovery year, water depth, field classification, field type, field GOR, proved reserves, cumulative production through
2006, and remaining proved reserves are presented. A complete listing of all 1,229 proved fields, ranked by proved
reserves, is available from MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Region Internet Web site or by contacting the MMS at 1-800-200-
GULF. New fields proved in 2006 are identified with an asterisk in the column labeled “New field.” Unproved fields
reserve data will not be listed. For proved fields not yet qualified, the field names are replaced with two asterisks to
preserve the proprietary nature of the data.
32
Table 4. Gulf of Mexico proved fields by rank order, based on proved BOE reserves, top 50 fields.
(For proved fields not qualified in 2005 the names are replaced with asterisks to preserve the proprietary nature of the data.)
(Field class: PDP - Proved Developed Producing; PDN - Proved Developed Non-Producing; PU - Proved Undeveloped)
(Field type: O - Oil; G - Gas)
Proved Cumulative production Remaining
Water reserves through 2006 proved reserves
Field New Disc Field Field Field
Rank depth
name field year class type GOR Oil Gas BOE Oil Gas BOE Oil Gas BOE
(feet)
(SCF/STB) (MMbbl) (Bcf) (MMbbl) (MMbbl) (Bcf) (MMbbl) (MMbbl) (Bcf) (MMbbl)
1 MC807 1989 3,393 PDP O 1,444 1,208.2 1,745.2 1,518.7 734.7 959.6 905.4 473.5 785.6 613.3
2 EI330 1971 247 PDP O 4,222 430.9 1,819.5 754.7 420.3 1,801.4 740.9 10.6 18.1 13.8
3 WD030 1949 48 PDP O 1,617 573.7 927.7 738.7 561.8 867.8 716.2 11.9 59.9 22.6
4 MC778 1999 6,081 PU O 776 642.7 498.4 731.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 642.6 498.4 731.3
5 GI043 1956 140 PDP O 4,302 377.3 1,618.9 665.3 360.8 1,537.1 634.3 16.5 81.8 31.0
6 MC776 * 2000 5,662 PU O 1,058 534.0 565.2 634.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 534.0 565.2 634.5
7 BM002 1949 50 PDP O 1,037 530.3 549.9 628.1 522.5 536.5 618.0 7.7 13.4 10.1
8 GC743 * 1998 6,468 PDP O 647 558.6 361.4 623.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 558.6 361.4 622.9
9 TS000 1958 13 PDP G 83,526 38.3 3,201.4 608.0 37.5 3,155.0 598.8 0.9 46.4 9.1
10 VR014 1956 26 PDP G 63,983 48.2 3,082.6 596.7 47.9 3,055.7 591.6 0.3 26.8 5.1
11 MP041 1956 42 PDP O 5,715 263.0 1,503.1 530.5 252.1 1,448.2 509.8 10.9 55.0 20.7
12 VR039 1948 38 PDP G 81,151 31.7 2,572.6 489.5 31.2 2,542.9 483.6 0.5 29.7 5.8
13 SS208 1960 102 PDP O 6,217 220.3 1,369.5 464.0 216.0 1,338.5 454.2 4.3 30.9 9.8
14 GC640 * 2002 4,234 PDN O 487 414.0 201.6 449.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 414.0 201.6 449.9
15 WD073 1962 178 PDP O 2,458 265.2 651.7 381.1 259.3 632.0 371.7 5.9 19.7 9.4
16 GB426 1987 2,860 PDP O 3,579 229.0 819.4 374.8 211.7 757.9 346.5 17.3 61.5 28.2
17 GI016 1948 53 PDP O 1,271 303.4 385.5 372.0 299.2 377.9 366.4 4.2 7.6 5.6
18 SP061 1967 219 PDP O 1,930 266.9 515.1 358.5 259.5 505.1 349.4 7.4 10.0 9.1
19 ST021 1957 46 PDP O 1,729 272.7 471.5 356.6 246.0 396.5 316.6 26.7 74.9 40.0
20 EI238 1964 147 PDP G 16,327 91.2 1,489.5 356.3 85.8 1,423.9 339.1 5.4 65.6 17.1
21 ST172 1962 98 PDP G 136,478 14.0 1,907.2 353.3 11.5 1,831.9 337.4 2.5 75.4 15.9
22 SP089 1969 423 PDP O 4,448 191.1 849.9 342.3 188.3 826.4 335.3 2.8 23.5 7.0
23 WC180 1961 48 PDP G 141,655 12.9 1,821.4 336.9 12.7 1,779.5 329.3 0.2 41.9 7.6
24 AC857 * 2002 7,900 PU O 1,205 272.5 328.3 330.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 272.5 328.3 330.9
25 ST176 1963 126 PDP G 14,710 89.7 1,320.0 324.6 81.5 1,171.5 290.0 8.2 148.5 34.7
26 SS169 1960 63 PDP O 5,411 163.2 883.3 320.4 154.3 825.1 301.2 8.9 58.1 19.2
27 SM048 1961 101 PDP G 55,963 28.6 1,601.1 313.5 27.8 1,512.7 297.0 0.8 88.4 16.5
28 MC194 1975 1,022 PDP O 4,175 178.8 746.4 311.6 176.5 738.0 307.8 2.3 8.4 3.8
29 EC064 1957 50 PDP G 57,810 27.4 1,586.2 309.7 26.6 1,537.9 300.3 0.8 48.4 9.4
30 EI292 1964 212 PDP G 84,604 19.1 1,617.4 306.9 18.3 1,609.4 304.7 0.8 7.9 2.2
31 EC271 1971 171 PDP G 18,853 70.3 1,325.8 306.2 67.5 1,309.3 300.5 2.8 16.5 5.7
32 SS176 1956 100 PDP G 19,836 65.3 1,294.6 295.6 62.9 1,261.7 287.4 2.3 32.9 8.2
33 SP027 1954 64 PDP O 5,219 151.7 791.6 292.5 150.0 762.3 285.7 1.7 29.3 6.9
34 WC587 1971 211 PDP G 110,142 14.1 1,554.0 290.6 12.8 1,528.5 284.8 1.3 25.5 5.8
35 ST135 1956 130 PDP O 3,612 171.7 620.0 282.0 165.7 579.5 268.8 6.0 40.6 13.2
36 EI296 1971 214 PDP G 69,965 20.3 1,421.6 273.3 20.3 1,413.6 271.8 0.0 8.0 1.5
37 WC192 1954 57 PDP G 58,762 23.8 1,399.6 272.9 22.3 1,356.8 263.7 1.5 42.8 9.1
38 WD079 1966 124 PDP O 3,800 162.7 618.3 272.7 160.5 609.1 268.9 2.2 9.2 3.8
39 MI623 1980 83 PDP G 98,785 14.4 1,426.2 268.2 13.3 1,335.0 250.9 1.1 91.2 17.3
40 HI573A 1973 341 PDP O 7,700 111.2 856.2 263.5 107.6 850.1 258.9 3.6 6.1 4.6
41 GC644 1999 4,340 PDP O 1,234 209.6 258.7 255.6 28.0 29.4 33.3 181.5 229.3 222.3
42 GI047 1955 88 PDP O 3,583 150.1 538.0 245.8 144.2 516.2 236.1 5.9 21.7 9.8
43 SP078 1972 203 PDP G 11,544 77.6 896.3 237.1 72.9 881.3 229.8 4.7 15.0 7.4
44 SM023 1960 82 PDP G 38,903 29.7 1,155.4 235.3 29.5 1,143.8 233.0 0.2 11.7 2.3
45 SM130 1973 214 PDP O 1,341 187.4 251.3 232.1 182.8 246.0 226.6 4.5 5.3 5.5
46 PL020 1951 33 PDP O 5,810 113.7 660.3 231.2 108.1 604.8 215.7 5.5 55.5 15.4
47 GC244 1994 2,762 PDP O 2,005 170.3 341.5 231.0 160.0 318.8 216.7 10.3 22.7 14.3
48 VR076 1949 31 PDP G 140,837 8.7 1,231.9 228.0 7.4 1,168.8 215.4 1.4 63.1 12.6
49 SM066 1963 124 PDP G 255,946 4.9 1,250.3 227.4 4.8 1,218.0 221.5 0.1 32.3 5.9
50 VK956 1985 3,254 PDP O 9,042 87.1 787.3 227.2 80.2 710.8 206.7 6.9 76.5 20.5
33
Reservoir-Size Distribution
The size distributions of the proved reservoirs are shown in Figures 32, 33, and 34. The size ranges are based on
proved reserves and are presented on a geometrically progressing, horizontal scale. These sizes correspond with
the USGS deposit-size ranges shown in Figure 23 with a modification to reflect small reservoirs in a finer distribution.
For Figures 33 and 34, the proved reserves are presented in MMbbl and Bcf, respectively. The number of reservoirs
in each size grouping, shown as percentages of the total, is presented on a linear vertical scale. For the combination
reservoirs (saturated oil rims with associated gas caps), shown in Figure 32, gas is converted to BOE and added to
the liquid reserves. Proved uneconomic reservoirs are excluded from these distributions, but are included in the Table
3 series.
Figure 32 shows the reservoir-size distribution, on the basis of proved BOE, for 2,235 proved combination reservoirs.
The median is 0.9 MMBOE and the mean is 2.9 MMBOE. The GOR for the oil portion of the reservoirs is 1,163
SCF/STB, and the yield for the gas cap is 22.1 barrels of condensate per MMcf of gas.
Figure 33 shows the reservoir-size distribution, on the basis of proved oil, for 8,014 proved undersaturated oil
reservoirs. The median is 0.3 MMbbl, the mean is 1.8 MMbbl, and the GOR is 1,220 SCF/STB.
Figure 34 shows the reservoir-size distribution, on the basis of proved gas, for 17,473 gas reservoirs. The median is
2.2 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas, the mean is 8.6 Bcf, and the yield is 12.1 barrels of condensate per MMcf of gas.
25
Median: 0.9 MMBOE
Mean: 2.9 MMBOE
20 GOR: 1,163 SCF/STB
Yield: 22.1 bbl/MMcf 16.5 16.4

Percent of Reservoirs
15 13.5 13.4
10 8.8 8.8
7.0
4.5
5 3.4
2.0 2.1
1.3
0.7 0.8
0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3
0
1-2
2-4
4-8
8 - 16
16 - 32
32 - 64
64 - 128
128 - 256
0.000 - 0.001
0.001 - 0.002
0.002 - 0.004
0.004 - 0.008
0.008 - 0.016
0.016 - 0.031
0.031 - 0.062
0.062 - 0.125
0.125 - 0.250
0.25 - 0.50
0.50 - 1.00
Figure 32. Reservoir-size distribution, 2,235 proved combination reservoirs.
34
25
Median: 0.3 MMBOE
Mean: 1.8 MMBOE
20 GOR: 1,220 SCF/STB

14.6
15 13.9
12.7
10.8
10.3
10
7.0 7.0
4.7
5 3.9 4.0
2.2 2.3 2.2

1.6
1.1 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.1
0
0.000 - 0.001
0.001 - 0.002
0.002 - 0.004
0.004 - 0.008
0.008 - 0.016
0.016 - 0.031
0.031 - 0.062
0.062 - 0.125
0.125 - 0.250
0.25 - 0.50
0.50 - 1.00
1-2
2-4
4-8
8 - 16
16 - 32
32 - 64
64 - 128
128 - 256
Proved Reserves, Million Barrels of Oil
Figure 33. Reservoir-size distribution, 8,014 proved oil reservoirs.
25
Median: 2.2 MMBOE
Mean: 8.6 MMBOE
20 Yield: 12.1 bbl/MMcf

15.1 15.0
15
12.7 12.3
9.5
10 8.2
6.4
4.5 4.5
5
2.9
1.7 1.9 2.0
0.9 1.2
0.8
0.3 0.1
0
12 - 24
24 - 48
48 - 96
96 - 192
192 - 384
384 - 768
0.0000 - 0.0058
0.0059 - 0.0117
0.0117 - 0.0234
0.0234 - 0.0469
0.0469 - 0.0938
0.0938 - 0.1875
0.1875 - 0.375
0.375 - 0.750
0.75 - 1.50
1.50 - 3.00
3-6
6 - 12
Proved Reserves, Billion Cubic Feet of Gas
Figure 34. Reservoir-size distribution, 17,473 proved gas reservoirs.
35
Production Rates and Discovery Trends
The mean daily production in the Gulf of Mexico OCS during 2006 was 1.06 MMbbl of crude oil, 0.22 MMbbl of gas
condensate, 1.76 Bcf of casinghead gas, and 6.25 Bcf of gas-well gas. The mean GOR of oil wells was 1,656
SCF/STB, and the mean yield from gas wells was 35.81 barrels of condensate per MMcf of gas. Monthly production
plots and data by field are also available from MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Region Internet Web site or can be obtained on
CD-ROM by contacting the MMS at 1-800-200-GULF.
Figures 35 and 36 show the frequency distribution of monthly production for completions active during 2006. Since
the number of completions within a given range changes from month to month, the completion numbers presented
are means of the 2006 monthly completion totals for each production range. Completions off production for more
than two days a month are not counted as continuously producing completions.
500
Intermittently producing
completions
400 Continuously producing
completions
90
Mean Number of Completions
104
300
52
95
200
312
27
254
66 211
100
165 13
130 10 5
39 5
42 2
11 66 71 64
25 52
26 18 29 37 24
5 6 15
0
< 16 < 32 < 64 < 125 < 250 < 500 < 1M < 2M < 4M < 8M < 16M < 32M < 64M < 125M < 250M 250M+
Monthly Production, Barrels of Oil (M=1,000)
Figure 35. Monthly distribution of oil production, 2,071 completions (1,467 continuously producing
completions).
36
500
Intermittently producing
completions
400 Continuously producing
completions
Mean Number of Completions
79
300
99
43
103
21
200
87
281
73
231 232
100 190 201 10
54 139
39 90 101 3
9 49 1
23 28 32 37
17 18
11 3 5 9
0
< 64 < 125 < 250 < 500 < 1M < 2M < 4M < 8M < 16M < 32M < 64M < 125M < 250M < 500M < 1MM 1MM+
Monthly Production, Thousand Cubic Feet of Gas (M=1,000)
Figure 36. Monthly distribution of gas production, 2,318 completions (1,629 continuously producing
completions).
Figure 37 summarizes the data from monthly distributions of oil and gas production rates. The highest reported
monthly oil production volume was from a Miocene reservoir with a subsea depth of 12,300 ft, during the month of
January. The highest reported monthly gas production volume was from a Miocene reservoir with a subsea depth of
15,395 ft, during the month of January. The mean number of oil completions producing more than 1,000 bbl per day
was 204, and the mean number of gas completions producing more than 10 MMcf per day was 114.
2006 Oil Gas

2,071 2,318
Mean Number of Producing Completions
(204 > 1,000 bbls per day) (114 > 10MMcf per day)
Mean Number of Continuously Producing
1,467 1,629
Completions
Highest Monthly Mean Number of Producing 2,333 2,314
Completions (December) (January)
Lowest Monthly Mean Number of Producing 1,662 38,990
Completions (January) (January)
Mean Production Volume 15,669 bbl 81.7 MMcf
Mean Producing Rate (586 bbl per day) (3.1 MMcf per day)
Median Production Volume 2,257 bbl 24.5 MMcf
Median Producing Rate (83 bbl per day) (1.3 MMcf per day)
Highest Production Volume 847,083 bbl 4,287 MMcf
Highest Producing Rate (27,325 bbl per day) (138.3 MMcf per day)
Highest Producing Month (January) (January)
Highest Production Volume Trend (MIOCENE) (MIOCENE)
Highest Production Volume Subsea Depth (12,300 feet) (15,395 feet)
Figure 37. Monthly completion and production data.
37
Annual production in the Gulf of Mexico OCS is shown in Figure 38. The oil plot includes condensate and the gas
plot includes casinghead gas. From 1986 through 1990, annual oil production declined 23 percent, which coincides
with low world oil prices. From 1990 through 2002, annual oil production increased 106 percent, from 275 MMbbl to
567 MMbbl, because of the addition of deepwater production. From 2002 to 2006 annual oil production decreased 17
percent to 468 MMbbl.
From 1990 through 1993, annual gas production declined 5 percent. From 1993 through 2001, annual gas production
rose from 4.7 Tcf, peaking at 5.1 Tcf in 1997, a 9-percent increase. Annual gas production reached at least 5.0 Tcf
per year from 1996 through 1999 and in 2001. From 2001 to 2006, annual gas production declined 43 percent to 2.9
Tcf. For further analysis of the gas production decline, see the MMS OCS Report MMS 2009-012, Gulf of Mexico
Oil and Gas Production Forecast: 2009-2018, available from MMS’s Gulf of Mexico Region Internet Web site.
Figure 39 presents proved reserves, cumulative production, and remaining proved reserves in BBOE as of December
31, 2006, summed according to field discovery year. Field depletion may be estimated by the relative positions of the
cumulative production curve and the remaining proved reserves curve. For example, if the value of the remaining
proved reserves is higher than the value of cumulative production for a given year, the aggregate depletion for fields
discovered that year is less than 50 percent. The plot demonstrates in general that fields discovered after 1996 are
less than 50 percent depleted.
Figure 40 is a plot of the number of proved gas and oil fields by discovery year. The annual number of gas fields
discovered steadily increased until 1984, declined until 1992, increased over the next five years, declined until 2002
and slightly increased over the next 4 years. The number of oil fields discovered has not varied much from year to
year, never exceeding 11, and averaging only about 3.7 discoveries per year. Through 1959, 35 percent of all fields
discovered were oil. This percentage declined steadily as more gas fields were discovered. Only 14 percent of the
fields discovered during the 1980’s were oil fields. From 1990 through 2006, the oil fields discovered rose to 20
percent, reflecting recent deepwater discoveries. There was an average of one oil discovery per year since 2003.
Reasons for the 2001-2006 declines exhibited in Figures 38-40 may be due in part to changes in industry exploration
and development trends, declining mature field production, and active hurricane seasons.
600 6
Annual oil production

500 5
Annual gas production
400 4
Gas (Trillion Cubic Feet)

Oil (Million Barrels)
300 3
200 2
100 1
0 0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 38. Annual oil and gas production.
38
3.0 3.0
Proved reserves
Cumulative production
Barrels of Oil Equavilent ( Billion Barrels)

Barrels of Oil Equivalent (Billion Barrels)
Remaining proved reserves
2.0 2.0
1.0 1.0
0.0 0.0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 39. Proved reserves and production by field discovery year.
70 70
60 60
Proved oil fields
Proved gas fields

50 50
Number of Fields
Number of Fields
40 40
30 30
20 20
10 10
0 0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 40. Annual oil and gas field discoveries.
39
Figure 41 presents the number of proved fields and the mean field size by field discovery year. This plot shows that
the number of discovered fields has been decreasing from year to year since 1997, and the mean size of the fields
has been getting smaller except for 1989 and 1998 through 2002. Except for the mean field size anomaly in 2005
through 2006 caused by an active hurricane season, the mean field size discovered is expected to increase because
of reserves growth and additions in proved fields and reserves from unproved fields that become proved.
Figure 42 presents the number of proved and unproved fields and the average water depth of the fields discovered in
each year. For 2001, the mean water depth for the fields discovered peaked at nearly 3,200 ft. Since 1995, the
mean water depth has been greater than 1,000 ft, indicating that exploration and resulting production have moved
into deeper water.
Figures 43 and 44 show proved oil and gas reserves and annual production by reservoir discovery year. All data
presented in Figure 43 include crude oil and condensate, and all data presented in Figure 44 include associated and
nonassociated gas. The year of discovery assigned to a reservoir is the year in which the first well encountering
hydrocarbons penetrated the reservoir. For comparison with the rate of discoveries, the annual production of oil and
gas is also shown. In eight of the last ten years, annual proved reserves additions for oil have exceeded annual oil
production, resulting in an increase in remaining proved oil reserves. Since 1984, annual gas production has
exceeded annual proved reserve additions for gas. In general, annual proved gas reserve additions have declined
since the early 1970’s.
Figure 45 presents the total footage drilled, the total number of wells drilled, and the number of exploratory and
development wells drilled in the Gulf of Mexico OCS each year. All curves show a decline from 1985 to 1986 due to
unfavorable oil and gas economics. A second decline occurred from 1990-92. Drilling increased from 1992 to 1997,
reflecting stable energy prices and improvements in exploration and production technology. The variation in the
number of wells drilled from 1997 to 2006 is caused in part by fluctuation in energy prices and new technologies
defining better targets.
Figure 46 presents the number of exploratory wells drilled each year by water depth. The plot shows the move
toward drilling in deeper water, but also illustrates continued drilling on the shelf. From 1997 through 2006, the
number of exploratory wells drilled in water depths between 201 and 650 ft has reduced by more than 60%.
Exploratory wells drilled in water depths greater than 1,300 ft have doubled since 1995. This may in part be due to
large discoveries and the availability of more deepwater drilling rigs.
40
0.4 80
Number of proved fields
Mean field size - proved

Barels of Oil Equivalent (Billion Barrels)
0.3 reserves 60
Number of Fields
0.2 40
0.1 20
0.0 0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 41. Number of proved fields and mean field size by field discovery year.
3,600 80
3,200
Number of proved and
unproved fields
2,800
Mean water depth 60
2,400
Water Depth (feet)
Number of Fields
2,000
40
1,600
1,200
20
800
400
0 0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 42. Number of proved and unproved fields and mean water depth by field discovery year.
41
1.5 1.5
Proved reserves
Annual production
1.0 1.0
Oil ( Billion Barrels)

Oil (Billion Barrels)
0.5 0.5
0.0 0.0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 43. Proved oil reserves by reservoir discovery year and annual oil production.
8.0 8.0
Proved reserves
Annual production
6.0 6.0
Oil ( Billion Barrels)

Oil (Billion Barrels)
4.0 4.0
2.0 2.0
0.0 0.0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 44. Proved gas reserves by reservoir discovery year and annual gas production.
42
1,500 18
Total wells
Development wells 16
1,250 Exploratory wells
Total footage 14
Total Footage (Million Feet)

1,000 12
Number of Wells
10
750
500 6
250
0 0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 45. Wells and footage drilled.
400 400
Water depth 0-200 ft

350 350
Water depth 201-650 ft
Water depth 651-1,300 ft

300 300
Water depth > 1,300 ft
250 250
Number of Wells
200 200 Number of Wells
150 150
100 100
50 50
0 0
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Figure 46. Number of exploratory wells drilled by water depth.
43
Summary and Comparison of Proved Reserves
A summary of the proved reserve estimates for 2006 and a comparison with estimates from the previous year’s report
(December 31, 2005) are shown in Table 5. There were 34 proved fields added during 2006 (5 oil fields and 29 gas
fields), which are summarized and tabulated as increases to proved reserves. Note that 15 of the proved fields added
were discovered prior to 2006.
Proved reserve estimates are revised as additional wells are drilled and new leases are added to existing fields, and
as reservoirs are depleted and leases relinquished. Complete reevaluations of existing field studies are conducted on
the basis of changes in field development and/or production history. Revisions of proved reserves are summarized
and presented as changes in Table 5. Based on periodic reviews and revisions of field studies conducted since the
2005 report, the revisions for proved oil and gas reserves have resulted in a net increase. A net change in the proved
oil and gas reserves is a result of combining the discoveries and the revisions.
Table 5 demonstrates that the 2006 proved oil discoveries and field revisions exceeded oil production primarily
because of lost production as a result of an active hurricane season. The remaining proved reserves increased 6
percent for oil and decreased 6 percent for gas since the 2005 report.
Table 5. Summary and comparison of proved oil and gas reserves as of December 31, 2005,
and December 31, 2006.
Oil Gas
(billion bbl) (trillion cu ft)
Proved reserves:
Previous estimates, as of 12/31/2005* 19.8 181.8
Discoveries 0.29 0.7
Revisions 0.21 1.2
Net Change 0.50 1.9
Estimate, as of 12/31/2006 (this report) 20.30 183.7
Cumulative production:
Revisions 0.47 2.9
Net Change 0.47 2.9
Remaining proved reserves:

Revisions 0.21 1.2
Production during 2006 -0.47 -2.9
Net Change 0.03 -1.0
44
Table 6 presents all previous reserve estimates by year. Because of adjustments and corrections to production data
submitted by Gulf of Mexico OCS operators, the difference between historical cumulative production for successive
years does not always equal the annual production for the latter year. No comparisons will be made for unproved
reserves.
Table 6. Proved oil and gas reserves and cumulative production at end of year, 1975-2006,
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf and Slope.
Oil expressed in billions of barrels; gas in trillions of cubic feet. "Oil" includes crude oil and condensate; "gas" includes associated and nonassociated gas.
Remaining proved reserves estimated as of December 31 each year.
Historical Remaining
Number of Proved
cumulative proved
Year fields reserves
production reserves
included
Oil Gas BOE Oil Gas BOE Oil Gas BOE
1975 255 6.61 59.9 17.27 3.82 27.2 8.66 2.79 32.7 8.61
1976 306 6.86 65.5 18.51 4.12 30.8 9.60 2.74 34.7 8.91
1977 334 7.18 69.2 19.49 4.47 35.0 10.70 2.71 34.2 8.80
1978 385 7.52 76.2 21.08 4.76 39.0 11.70 2.76 37.2 9.38
1979 * 417 7.71 82.2 22.34 4.83 44.2 12.69 2.88 38.0 9.64
1980 435 8.04 88.9 23.86 4.99 48.7 13.66 3.05 40.2 10.20
1981 461 8.17 93.4 24.79 5.27 53.6 14.81 2.90 39.8 9.98
1982 484 8.56 98.1 26.02 5.58 58.3 15.95 2.98 39.8 10.06
1983 521 9.31 106.2 28.21 5.90 62.5 17.02 3.41 43.7 11.19
1984 551 9.91 111.6 29.77 6.24 67.1 18.18 3.67 44.5 11.59
1985 575 10.63 116.7 31.40 6.58 71.1 19.23 4.05 45.6 12.16
1986 645 10.81 121.0 32.34 6.93 75.2 20.31 3.88 45.8 12.03
1987 704 10.76 122.1 32.49 7.26 79.7 21.44 3.50 42.4 11.04
1988 + 678 10.95 126.7 33.49 7.56 84.3 22.56 3.39 42.4 10.93
1989 739 10.87 129.1 33.84 7.84 88.9 23.66 3.03 40.2 10.18
1990 782 10.64 129.9 33.75 8.11 93.8 24.80 2.53 36.1 8.95
1991 819 10.74 130.5 33.96 8.41 98.5 25.94 2.33 32.0 8.02
1992 835 11.08 132.7 34.69 8.71 103.2 27.07 2.37 29.5 7.62
1993 849 11.15 136.8 35.49 9.01 107.7 28.17 2.14 29.1 7.32
1994 876 11.86 141.9 37.11 9.34 112.6 29.38 2.52 29.3 7.73
1995 899 12.01 144.9 37.79 9.68 117.4 30.57 2.33 27.5 7.22
1996 920 12.79 151.9 39.82 10.05 122.5 31.85 2.74 29.4 7.97
1997 957 13.67 158.4 41.86 10.46 127.6 33.17 3.21 30.8 8.69
1998 984 14.27 162.7 43.22 10.91 132.7 34.52 3.36 30.0 8.70
1999 1,003 14.38 161.3 43.08 11.40 137.7 35.90 2.98 23.6 7.18
2000 1,050 14.93 167.3 44.70 11.93 142.7 37.32 3.00 24.6 7.38
2001 1,086 16.51 172.0 47.11 12.48 147.7 38.77 4.03 24.3 8.35
2002 1,112 18.75 176.8 50.21 13.05 152.3 40.15 5.71 24.6 10.09
2003 1,141 18.48 178.2 50.19 13.61 156.7 41.49 4.87 21.5 8.70
2004 1,172 18.96 178.4 50.70 14.14 160.7 42.73 4.82 17.7 7.97
2005 1,196 19.80 181.8 52.15 14.61 163.9 43.77 5.19 17.9 8.38
2006 1,229 20.30 183.6 52.97 15.08 166.7 44.74 5.22 16.9 8.23
* Gas plant liquids dropped from system
+ Basis of reserves changed from demonstrated to SPE proved.
45
Conclusions
As of December 31, 2006, the 1,229 proved oil and gas fields in the federally regulated part of the Gulf of Mexico
OCS contained proved reserves estimated to be 20.30 billion barrels of oil and 183.7 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Cumulative production from the proved fields accounts for 15.08 billion barrels of oil and 166.7 trillion cubic feet of
gas. Remaining proved reserves are estimated to be 5.22 billion barrels of oil and 16.9 trillion cubic feet of gas for the
956 proved active fields. Remaining proved oil reserves have increased 6 percent and the remaining proved gas
reserves have decreased 6 percent from last year’s report.
Unproved reserves in the federally regulated part of the Gulf of Mexico OCS are estimated to be 4.44 billion barrels of
oil and 8.3 trillion cubic feet of gas. Included are unproved reserves of 4.18 billion barrels of oil and 4.2 trillion cubic
feet of gas from 119 fields in water depths greater than 1,000 feet. Estimated unproved reserves for oil are 8.9 times
annual oil production, and for gas are 1.4 times greater than annual gas production.
Annual oil production is expected to ramp up as more fields recover from the effects of an active hurricane season,
while gas production is expected to level off at rates below those seen in the 1990’s. The increase in remaining
proved oil reserves is likely to continue as new deepwater discoveries become proved.
In addition to the proved and unproved reserves discussed above, at a minimum there are 1.32 billion barrels of oil
and 7.7 trillion cubic feet of gas that are not presented in the tables and figures of this report. This oil and gas occurs
on leases that have not yet qualified (and therefore are not placed in a field) or they occur as known resources in
proved fields, or as known resources in unproved fields. As further drilling and development occur, these additional
hydrocarbon volumes will become reportable, and it is anticipated that future proved and unproved reserves will
increase accordingly.
Contributing Personnel
This report includes contributions from the following Gulf of Mexico Region, Office of Resource Evaluation, personnel.
David W. Absher
Kellie K. Lemoine
Lesley D. Nixon
Chee W. Yu
46
References
Attanasi, E.D., 1998, Economics and the National Assessment of United States Oil and Gas Resources, U.S.
Geological Survey Circular 1145, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., Table A-4, p. 29.
Bascle, B.J., L.D. Nixon, and K.M. Ross, 2001, Atlas of Gulf of Mexico Gas and Oil Sands as of January 1, 1999,
U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Office of Resource
Evaluation, OCS Report MMS 2001-086, New Orleans, 342 p. Internet Web site: http://www.gomr/mms.gov/
homepg/gomatlas/atlas.html
Hasseltine, George, 2008, Indicated Hydrocarbon List, Central, Western, and Eastern Gulf of Mexico, U. S.
Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region. Internet Web site: http://www.
gomr.mms.gov/homepg/offshore/gulfocs/hclist/hclist.html
Crawford, T.G., G.L. Burgess, S.M. Haley, C.J. Kinler, G.D. Klocek, and N.K. Shepard, 2009, Estimated Oil and Gas
Reserves, Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, December 31, 2005, U. S. Department of the Interior, Minerals
Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, OCS Report MMS 2009-022, New Orleans, 48 p. Internet Web site:
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/offshore/fldresv/resvmenu.html
Nixon, L.D., C.M. Bohannon, M.P. Gravois, E.G. Kazanis, T.M. Montgomery, and N.K. Shepard, 2009, Deepwater
Gulf of Mexico 2009: Interim Report of 2008 Highlights, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management
Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, OCS Report MMS 2009-016, New Orleans, 72 p. Internet Web site:
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/PDFs/2009/2009-016.pdf
Brewton, A., L. Almasy, R. Baud, R. Bongiovanni, T.M. DeCort, A.G. Josey, E.G. Kazanis, T. Riches Jr., M. Uli,
F. Yam, Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Production Forecast: 2007-2016, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals
Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, OCS Report MMS 2009-012, New Orleans, 23 p. Internet Web site:
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/PDFs/2009/2009-012.pdf
Lore, G.L., 1994, An Exploration and Discovery Model; An Historic Perspective—Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental
Shelf, In: K. Simakov and D. Thurston (eds.), Proceedings of the 1994 International Conference on Arctic Margins,
Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, p. 306-313.
Lore, G.L., D.A. Marin, E.C. Batchelder, W.C. Courtwright, R.P. Desselles, Jr., and R.J. Klazynski, 2001, 2000
Assessment of Conventionally Recoverable Hydrocarbon Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Outer
Continental Shelf as of January 1, 1999, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region, Office of Resource Evaluation, OCS Report MMS 2001-087, New Orleans, 652 p. Internet
Web site: http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/offshore/gulfocs/assessment/assessment.html
Lore, G.L. 2006, Assessment of Undiscovered Technically Recoverable Oil and Gas Resources of the Nation’s Outer
Continental Shelf, 2006, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Resource Evaluation
Division, 6 p. Internet Web site: http://www.mms.gov/revaldiv/PDFs/2006NationalAssessmentBrochure.pdf
Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, 1992, Code of Federal Regulations, 30
CFR, Mineral Resources, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), World Petroleum Congress (WPC), American Association of Petroleum
Geologists (AAPG), and Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers (SPEE), 2007, Petroleum Resource
Management System, 49p. Internet Web site: http://www.spe.org/spe-app/spe/industry/reserves/prms.htm
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 1989, Conversion Factors, Monthly Energy, December 1989, p. 132-133.
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey and Minerals Management Service, 1989, Estimates of
Undiscovered Conventional Oil and Gas Resources in the United States)–A Part of the Nation’s Energy Endowment,
44 p.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, Gulf of Mexico OCS Deep
Gas Update: 2001-2002, OCS Report MMS 2003-026, New Orleans, 8 p. Internet Web site:
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepf/offshore/deepgas.html
U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico Region, OCS Operations Field
Directory, 2007, New Orleans, 178 p. Internet Web site: http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/offshore/fldresv/
mastlist.html
47
Notice
This report, Estimated Oil and Gas Reserves, Gulf of Mexico, December 31, 2006, has undergone numerous
changes over the last few years. We are continually striving to provide meaningful information to the users of this
document. Suggested changes, additions, or deletions to our data or statistical presentations are encouraged so we
can publish the most useful report possible. Please contact the Reserves Section Chief at (504) 736-2918 at
Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, MS 5130, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, to
communicate your ideas for consideration in our next report.
For free publication and digital data, visit the Gulf of Mexico Internet web site. The report can be accessed as an
Acrobat .pdf (portable document format) file, which allows you to view, print, navigate, and search the document with
the free downloadable Acrobat Reader 9.0. Digital data used to create the tables and figures presented in the
document are also accessible as either tab-delimited ASCII text files (.txt; viewable using NotePad or WordPad) or
as Excel 97 spreadsheet files (.xls; using Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet viewer, a free file viewer for users without
access to Excel). These files are made available in a zipped format, which can be unzipped with the downloadable
WinZip program. Soon to be available (for a nominal fee) is a CD-ROM that will include this report, digital data, and
field production plots.
For information on purchasing copies of this publication or the CD-ROM contact:
Minerals Management Service

Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
Attn: Public Information Unit (MS 5034)
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394
(504) 736-2519 or 1-800-200-GULF
http://www.gomr.mms.gov
David W. Cooke
Regional Supervisor
Resource Evaluation
48
The Department of the Interior Mission
As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has
responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This
includes fostering sound use of our land and water resources; protecting our fish, wildlife, and
biological diversity; preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and
historical places; and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The
Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to ensure that their
development is in the best interests of all our people by encouraging stewardship and citizen
participation in their care. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian
reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under U.S. administration.
The Minerals Management Service Mission
As a bureau of the Department of the Interior, the Minerals Management Service's (MMS)
primary responsibilities are to manage the mineral resources located on the Nation's Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS), collect revenue from the Federal OCS and onshore Federal and
Indian lands, and distribute those revenues.
Moreover, in working to meet its responsibilities, the Offshore Minerals Management

Program administers the OCS competitive leasing program and oversees the safe and
environmentally sound exploration and production of our Nation's offshore natural gas, oil and
other mineral resources. The MMS Minerals Revenue Management meets its
responsibilities by ensuring the efficient, timely and accurate collection and disbursement of
revenue from mineral leasing and production due to Indian tribes and allottees, States and the
U.S. Treasury.
The MMS strives to fulfill its responsibilities through the general guiding principles of: (1) being
responsive to the public's concerns and interests by maintaining a dialogue with all potentially
affected parties and (2) carrying out its programs with an emphasis on working to enhance the
quality of life for all Americans by lending MMS assistance and expertise to economic
development and environmental protection.
MMS Securing Ocean Energy &

Economic Value for America

Estimated Oil &amp; Gas Reserves - Gulf of Mexico - December 31, 2006 (MMS)

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OCS Report

Outer Continental Shelf

Estimated Oil and Gas Reserves

Resource Evaluation Office

U.S. Department of the Interior

5.22 Bbbl - Oil

Gulf of Mexico Reserves and Resources

Definition of Resource and Reserve Terms

Undiscovered Resources Discovered Resources

Undrilled Prospects Drilled Prospects

Nonproducing Producing Economically

Increasing Hydrocarbon Assurance

Figure 1. MMS conventionally recoverable petroleum resource classifications.

Undiscovered Unproved Unproved Proved

Unproved Reserves Proved Reserves

Increasing Hydrocarbon Assurance and Economic Certainty

Figure 2. Gulf of Mexico MMS reserve classifications.

MMS Reporting of Reserve and Resource Data

Figure 3. MMS evaluation of reserves and resources.

Methods Used for Estimating Reserves

Reserves and Related Data Reported by Area

Figure 4. Western Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf.

Isla Mar Sou

Amery Terrace Lund South

Figure 5. Central Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf.

DeSoto Florida Middle Tarpon

Lloyd The Saint

Rankin Dry Key

Figure 6. Eastern Planning Area, Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf.

Figure 8. Gulf of Mexico, 59 unproved active fields.

Definitions for the lease subgroups of Table 2 are:

Figure 9. Gulf of Mexico geologic time scale.

Reserves Reported by Geologic Age

Figure 11. Pliocene reserves trend.

Figure 13. Pre-Miocene reserves trend.

Proved Reserves Cumulative Production Remaining Proved

Pleistocene Pliocene Miocene

Figure 14. Distribution of reserves and production data by geologic age.

Figure 23. Description of deposit-size classes.

Num ber of Fields

160 ( b ) Western GOM M edian: 7.7 M M B OE

160 ( c ) Central GOM M edian: 12.5 M M B O E

Proved Reserves, Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent

Num ber of Fields

40 ( b ) Western GOM M edian: 28.6 M M B OE

40 ( c ) Central GOM 34 M ean: 115.2 M M B O E

Proved Reserves, Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent

Num ber of Fields

160 ( b ) Western M edian: 6.6 M M B OE

160 ( c ) Central GOM M edian: 8.1 M M B OE

Proved Reserves, Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent

Num ber of Fields

( b ) Unproved oil, GOM M edian: 25.3 M M B OE

( c ) Unproved gas, GOM M edian: 2.8 M M B OE

Proved Reserves, Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent

1,229 Proved Fig. 24a 10.3 43.1 11 15%

230 Proved Oil Fig. 25a 47.8 108.8 9 27%

999 Proved Gas Fig. 26a 7.3 28.2 16 20%

59 Unproved Fig. 27a 9.1 63.8 3 55%

34 Unproved Oil Fig. 27b 25.3 104.2 3 59%

25 Unproved Gas Fig. 27c 2.8 8.9 1 39%

Figure 28. GOM field-size distribution.

Proved Reserves, Billion Barrels of Oil Equivalent

25% of the proved reserves are in

Estimated Oil & Gas Reserves - Gulf of Mexico - December 31, 2006 (MMS)

Estimated Oil & Gas Reserves - Gulf of Mexico - December 31, 2006 (MMS)